The first Haut-Kœnigsbourg castle dates back to the 12th century. Frederick of Hohenstaufen tried to make Alsace the base of his power to gain control of the Holy Roman Empire. The rocky outcrop that crowns the mountain is an ideal natural defense. The 2,483 ft high (757 m) Staufenberg allows the occupants to monitor the two major trade routes that pass below. The first one is the salt and silver route (east-west) that links Alsace to the Duchy of Lorraine. The other is the north-south grain and wine route.