Castles, fortresses and history in Alsace (FR)

Photo: ©Lez Broz, Visit-Alsace

FORTE CULTURA fortress group: fortified monuments in Alsace (FR)

Alsace, land of medieval castles

Once at the heart of the Holy Roman Empire, Alsace was the birthplace of several dynasties of emperors, including the Hohenstaufens and the Habsburgs.

A land of riches that has been disputed since Antiquity. Many castles were built in the Middle Ages to protect them. Today, there are almost 80 of them, mainly in the Vosges foothills.

These fortresses, as impressive as they are fragile, can be seen from afar and stand alongside forests and vineyards; their appearance is often very similar to that of their neighbours and cousins in Lorraine, Germany and Switzerland.

To promote these witnesses to a prestigious past, sites, local authorities and volunteers in Alsace have been working together for several years, in close collaboration with their partners in the Upper Rhine region.

Discover the magical castles in the Vosges with FORTE CULTURA and our partners in Alsace.

The Route of the Castles and Fortified Towns of Alsace

The route of castles and fortified towns in Alsace includes more than 50 sites. Discover wildly romantic castle ruins, charming historic towns and marvellous views. Meet the people who bring this cultural heritage to life every day. Immerse yourself in the history of Alsace and let yourself be carried away by the magic of these places steeped in history.

Learn more

To find out more, visit:

https://www.alsaceterredechateaux.com/en/must-sees/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7A85-amB6pQ

Alsace, a land of remembrance

As a result of its history and the vicissitudes of war, Alsace carries with it the weight of those tragic times, but also of reconciliation and the building of lasting peace, fertile ground for unity and the headquarters of the European institutions.

Numerous places of remembrance offer a journey through time, with exceptional fortifications maintained by volunteers dedicated to sharing this rich and eventful history, from Vauban's fortifications to the Franco-Prussian War of 1870 and the First and Second World Wars.

Perched in the Vosges mountains close to the ridge line, or along the Rhine with the Maginot Line, these are all sentinels and witnesses to border conflicts that can be discovered, understood and passed on to younger generations.

Film versions: English, French

To find out more, visit:

www.visit.alsace