Abandoned Castles and Fortresses That Look Straight Out of a Fairy Tale

24. Château de Saint-Ulrich, France – The Overlook of Forgotten Lords

Towering above the Alsatian town of Ribeauvillé in northeastern France, the Château de Saint-Ulrich is a majestic ruin that seems plucked from the pages of a medieval epic. Built in the 11th century by the Lords of Ribeaupierre, it once stood as a strategic sentinel over the Vosges Mountains and the Rhine Valley trade routes. Over centuries, the castle expanded with Romanesque towers, Gothic halls, and fortified bastions—but by the 17th century, it was abandoned, left to the forest and the shifting fortunes of time. Today, moss carpets its stone stairways and pine trees crowd its inner courtyards, but much of the castle’s massive structure remains. Visitors who make the short but steep hike from Ribeauvillé are rewarded with breathtaking views stretching across vineyards, valleys, and distant peaks. Standing among its weathered ramparts, it's easy to imagine banners fluttering in the wind and armored figures patrolling the walls. With its haunting atmosphere and commanding presence, Château de Saint-Ulrich is one of France’s most photogenic—and underrated—abandoned fortresses, a hidden gem for castle hunters and history lovers alike.