The castle ruins are a landmark in French-speaking Switzerland. The castle ruins are located in the Franconian-Veldenstein Swiss Forest Nature Park, about 800 meters east of the Streitberg village church. They are located above the Wiesent Valley on a hilly spur (402.9 m a.s.l.) north-northeast of Wartleitenberg Hill (488 m a.s.l.). The ruins can be reached via several hiking trails from the valley or from villages on the plateau. Neideck Castle was first mentioned in a document from 1312. However, archaeologists believe it was built as early as the 12th century. For a long time, the noble castle was the ancestral seat of the powerful noble house of Schlüsselberg, which had control over the area that is now Franconian Switzerland. The best-known story is that of Count Konrad von Schlüsselberg, who in 1347 drew the wrath of the bishops of Würzburg and Nuremberg by establishing a customs house in the Wiesenttal. They attacked Neideck Castle and fatally struck the count with a stone bullet. An anecdote relates that at that time the count was sitting in his "private room." In its long history, Neideck Castle has survived several attacks and wars and has often changed its appearance. After World War II, the Streitberg municipality decided to take the first conservation measures to save the monument. Renovation work began in 1996 and was completed in 2008. Since then, there has also been an archaeological park in the castle area. The castle complex consists of three sections separated by deep moats. The actual ruins of Neideck Castle include the outer castle and the main castle, which sits on a rocky outcrop jutting out to the northeast and whose tower is still standing. Since 2008 it has been possible to climb to the top of the 10-meter-high walls, from which there is a splendid view. Occasionally, cultural events such as theater performances are held in the castle.
