It is located near the border of France and Germany, and little of the castle remains because of geological events.

[1] There were two Schauenburg castles near Frenkendorf, Alt (or Old)-Schauenburg about 1 km (0.62 mi) southwest of the village on the top of Chleiflüeli hill and Neu (or New)-Schauenburg to the west.

Alt-Schauenburg was probably built around 1275 as the seat of a junior branch of the Schauenburg family.

The 1356 Basel earthquake destroyed much of the castle and shortly thereafter the ruins were abandoned.

Inside the shield wall, the castle tower and residence hall were rectangular.