Rock castle A rock castle ( ) is a type of medieval castle which directly incorporates natural rock formations into its defences to such an extent that the rock formations define the structure of the castle . Topographically rock castles are classified as hill castle s . Layout . By contrast with the usual hill castles , that utilize the bedrock as a foundation for the individual buildings , the entire structure of rock castles is shaped by natural , often isolated rock formations , such as rock pinnacles or crags . Typically a rock castle was built on a rock that was able to provide a fortified position without any great additions . In simple fortifications of this type the rock could be climbed on simple ladders that were hoisted up in times of danger . Rock castles would also have wooden and stone structures built on or against them . The morphological characteristics of the rock were crucial to the extent and nature of any structures . The rock on which the castle stands is always incorporated into its design . If the rock is easy to work ( e . g . sandstone ) , rooms , passages , steps , well shafts and cisterns were always hacked out of it . The buildings , made of wood or stone , stood on or next to the rock and used it as a foundation or walls . The remains of wooden structures are not usually preserved today , but their location and appearance can be partially gauged by the joist bearings and joist holes still visible in the rock . Rock castles occur in large numbers in the southern Palatinate ( Palatinate Forest ) , in northern Alsace ( North Vosges ) as well as in North Bohemia and Saxon Switzerland , where great sandstone rocks provide the necessary prerequisite for their construction . Most rock castles no longer exist today . Often the site was slighted and then used by local residents as a stone quarry , so that apart from the changes to the rocks themselves , only a few remains are still visible . Several rock castles , like the ruins of Neuwindstein still have impressive wall remains however . A few rock castles were rebuilt in more recent times , e . g . Berwartstein Castle at the end of the 19th century and the imperial castle of Trifels Castle , which was to have become a " site of national remembrance " ( " nationalen Weihestätte " ) during the Nazi era . In both cases it was not a reconstruction of the medieval fortification but a contemporary new design . Rock - hewn castles . Castle researcher , Otto Piper used the German phrase " ausgehauene Burg " ( literally : " carved - out castle " ) for castles that had rooms artificially hewn out of the rock on which the castle stood . His examples of such rock - hewn castles include Fleckenstein , Trifels and Altwindstein . From a constructional point of view there is a close relationship with cave castle s , which are also often enhanced with rooms artificially cut out of the rock . False interpretations . The shapes carved out of the rock , the foundation footings and joist pockets are often falsely interpreted by laymen as prehistoric or early history heathen cult sites . In some cases this has resulted in tourists being attracted which in turn has caused considerable damage to these monuments . Foremost amongst these are Frankish castles in the Haßberge Hills , notably Lichtenstein Castle . The neighbouring castle of Rotenhan and others were inundated with visitors from throughout Europe . However , there is no archaeological evidence as a rule of pre - medieval use as site for cult rituals or sacrifices . Important rock castles . In France : In Germany : In Czechia :