Initially property of " Eguisheim-Dabo ", then bishops of Strasbourg ; the city was surrounded by ramparts in 1340.
The future Louis XI besieged the city in 1444, then still during the Thirty years' War which led to the destruction of Bernstein's castle, chief town of an important episcopal bailiwick.

Picturesque village where the walker will be able to discover the ruins of the " Bernstein's castle " dating from the 13th to 15th centuries, with its pentagonal dungeon, its lodging house, its Roman windows, its turn-vault, its underground well-cistern.
Old fortifications, the gateways of Blienschwiller, Dieffenthal and Ebersheim, dating all from 14th and 15th centuries.
The Town Hall (1547) of Renaissance style with its frontages and its roofs, and belfry..
The fountain of the Bear, known as " Stockbrunnen ", the inn " The Crown " dating from the 16th to 17th centuries with its frontages and roofs.
Many old half-timbered houses at numbers 8 and 12, on Market square, at number 4, Church street, at numbers 53, 55 and 82, on Marshal Foch's street, at number 5, on Bears' street, at number 2, on Wet Coopers' street.
Numerous wrought iron signs.
Religious buildings among which the church dating from the 19th century.
The chapel " Saint Jean-Baptiste " partially Roman and Gothic, last vestige of the disappeared village Altenweiler.
The chapel " Saint Sebastien " dating from the 13th century with its Roman bell-tower, the nave of the 17th century, the Gothic choir with polygonal lowsides; the baroque master-altar of the 17th century, the ossuary of the 16th century, a calvary of 1687.
A Gothic " Mount of Olives ". The chapel of the Virgin of the 15th century.

Altitude 215 m. 1973 inhabitants. Flower decked village ** 2003.
Summer health resort, at the foot of the massif of the Vosges mountains, with Bernstein's national forest.
Vine: Route des Vins d'Alsace. Grands Crus wines : " Frankstein "
Cooperative cellar.
Brotherhood of the Blest of the Frankstein : wine brotherhood.
Phone : + 33 3 88 92 62 03 - Fax : + 33 3 88 92 49 40.
April 20th and 21st, 2002 : Granitstone and Wines.
May 26th : Fête de l'Aspérule.
July 6th : Night of the Wine.
July 21st : Popular walk.
July 27th : Feast of the Bear.
August 3rd : Stocburneowe.
August 14th and15th: EUROWINE
Folk group " The Merry Vine growers ".
Hunting.
Rural and equestrian lodgings as well as camp-site at the farm.
Phone : + 33 3 88 09 21 06.
Guided Visits by a wine grower in the Little Touristic Train :
Phone : + 33 3 88 92 41 86 - Fax : + 33 3 88 92 61 81.
Tourist Office : 2, place de l'Hôtel de Ville,
Phone : + 33 3 88 92 61 00 - Fax : + 33 3 88 80 37 01.
E-mail : otdlv@netcourrier.com


Christmas and Year-end festivities :
Please see http://www.alsace-noel.com