Our FORTE CULTURA travel recommendation
Route der Burgen und befestigten Städte im Elsass (Seite 4/4)
Developed by FORTE CULTURE Partner Alsace Destination Tourisme (ADT).
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37 Château Saint-Ulrich
Saint-Ulrich Castle (alt. 530 m) is the most imposing of the three castles in Ribeauvillé. Also known as Rappolstein and Ukrichsburg, it was built in the 13th century on a rocky outcrop overlooking the Strengbach valley. Its expansions, including a majestic wing with two large halls illuminated by a double row of twin windows, make it a fine example of seigniorial residence. Residence of the Ribeaupierre until the 15th century, the castle fell into ruin in the 16th century, with a fire in the 17th. Today, its visible remains reflect influences from several eras.
68150 Ribeauville
www.scherwiller.fr
(Bild ©D. Lett – ADT)
38 Château du Haut-Barr
Just 5 minutes by car or a 1.5-hour walk from the city center, Haut-Barr Castle, nicknamed “The Eye of Alsace,” rises 470 meters high on three rocks. This medieval ruin from the 12th century occupies a strategic position between the Lorraine plateau and the Alsace plain. The current structure was built in 1583 by Jean de Manderscheid. The Devil's Bridge walkway, accessible by stairs, connects two rocks and is famous for its legend. Enjoy the breathtaking view and try to spot the spire of Strasbourg Cathedral!
67700 Saverne
www.tourisme-saverne.fr
(Bild ©D. Lett – ADT)
39 Château des Rohan
The Château des Rohan, once called "The Little Versailles of Alsace," is located in the center of Saverne, along the Marne-Rhine Canal. Built in the 13th century and restored in the 19th century under Napoleon III, this former episcopal castle now houses a museum, a cultural center, a youth hostel, and a school. Its neoclassical façade made of pink sandstone stretches 140 meters long, equivalent to the horizontal height of Strasbourg Cathedral. Enjoy the view from the park and discover the castle's secrets at the museum, which features collections of art, history, and archaeology.
67700 Saverne
www.tourisme-saverne.fr
(Bild ©OT du Pays de Saverne – ADT)
40 Château de l’Ortenbourg
Perched at 443 meters altitude, Ortenbourg Castle, built between 1260 and 1265 by Rudolf of Habsburg, is one of the most beautiful ruins in the Rhine Valley. This masterpiece of military architecture, with its high curtain wall surrounding a 32-meter donjon, stands out in the landscape. The donjon featured 6 defensive firing levels, and its pentagonal design allowed for better deflection of attackers' projectiles. Recently, the association "Les sentinelles de l’Ortenbourg" was created to safeguard, enhance, and animate the castle.
67750 Scherwiller
www.scherwiller.fr
(Bild ©INFRA – ADT)
41 Château du Ramstein
The Ramstein Castle, built in 1293 by Otto von Ochsenstein, is located below its powerful neighbor, Ortenbourg. Only two sections of the walls of the residential tower remain, where different levels, a fireplace, and a large niche archery pointing toward Ortenbourg can be seen, capable of accommodating a war machine. A team of volunteers, the "Ramstein Guardians," works to clear and stabilize the walls and foundations. For safety reasons, the castle is off-limits, but site tours are available during heritage days.
67750 Scherwiller
www.scherwiller.fr
(Bild ©C.Fleith – ADT)(Bild ©C.Fleith – ADT)
42 Château de l’Engelbourg
Constructed from 1224, the castle underwent various expansions until the 16th century. It served as the residence of the Count of Ferrette and oversaw the toll in the Thur valley. Its name, meaning "village of the angel," honors Saint Michael, and it stands atop Schlossberg, the "mountain of the castle." In 1673, Louis XIV, having conquered Alsace, ordered the demolition of the strategically useless castle. Miners from Giromagny used explosives, leaving the keep partially collapsed, earning it the local nickname "the Witch's Eye," symbolizing an eye watching over the town. A family-friendly walk offers beautiful views of the surrounding hills.
68800 Thann
(Bild ©INFRA – ADT)
43 Château du Bilstein
This castle features a square donjon from the 12th century, protected by a double wall modified by the Wurtemberg in the 14th century. Access to the donjon is through a high ogival door, providing stunning views of the surrounding Vosges ridges.
67220 Urbeis
tourisme.valleedeville
(Bild ©OT de la Vallée de Villé – ADT)
44 Portes médiévales de Wangen
Wangen is a fortified town with walls over 1,000 meters long. Today, three gates remain. The Niedertor, or Niedertorturm, is the best preserved, dating back to the 13th century and classified as a historical monument in 1931. The Sommertor features Renaissance cannon openings and a Gothic window added in the 14th century. Until 2000, it housed the Catholic rectory. The Motscheltor, destroyed in 1887, led to the vineyards, of which only a winemaker's bench remains. These gates illustrate Wangen's history and strategic importance.
67520 Wangen
www.histoire-wangen.alsace
(Bild ©100kmautour.com)
45 Château de Wangenbourg
The castle is located at an altitude of 480 m in the small village of Wangenbourg. Built in the 13th century from Vosges sandstone by the lords of Wangen, it stands on a natural rocky spur. This mountain castle served as a defense against raiders, providing shelter for villagers seeking safety. Access is via a bridge leading to the inner courtyard, where you can admire numerous windows and the remnants of a stunning Gothic fireplace. The 24 m donjon is accessible for the brave. Once at the top, you will enjoy breathtaking views of the Mossig Valley. The tower is open from April to November.
67710 Wangenbourg Engenthal
www.route-chateaux-alsace.com
(Bild ©C.Fleith – ADT)
46 Château du Freudeneck
Located near Wangenbourg, the Freudeneck Castle stands at 390 m altitude on the Schlossberg ridge, overlooking the Mossig River. Once used as a lookout to alert the nearby Wangenbourg Castle, only a few architectural remains survive today. The round keep at the center, made of dressed stones, along with the ruins of fortifications and a bailey, testify to its past. Although the fortified gate and drawbridge have disappeared, a marked trail provides access to the ruins from Wangenbourg Castle.
67710 Wangenbourg Engenthal
(Bild ©INFRA – ADT)
47 Château du Hagueneck
This charming little castle nestles discreetly at the end of a wooded valley, near the Route of the Five Castles. Dated to the 13th century, it was remodeled and enlarged in the 14th century. The castle belonged to Burkhard of Hagueneck, a vassal of the Bishop of Strasbourg. After being besieged and burned, it was reconstructed shortly after. Reappearing in the 17th century, it was incorporated in 1674 into the possessions of the Knights of St. John. During the Revolution, it was sold as national property. With a nearly rectangular layout, it features a square donjon, a main residence, and outbuildings. Classified as a "Historic Monument" since January 29, 1923, it served only a residential purpose.
68920 Wettolsheim
www.tourisme-eguisheim-rouffach.com
(Bild ©INFRA – ADT)
48 Château du Nouveau-Windstein
Built in the 13th and 14th centuries and later modernized, the castle features a defense system similar to that of the Wasenbourg in Niederbronn-les-Bains. The residence rests on a blind shield wall, protecting a broad flat attack front and the lower courtyard. In the era of firearms, defense was enhanced by a pentagonal bastion to the east and a round tower to the south, equipped with horizontal firing gunports. The history of the Nouveau and Vieux-Windstein is complex. The Nouveau-Windstein was abandoned after the Thirty Years' War at the end of the 17th century, but today, a dynamic association restores and promotes this well-preserved ruin.
67110 Windstein
www.route-chateaux-alsace.com
(Bild ©M. Schampion – ADT)
49 Château de Hohenbourg
Like the Fleckenstein, the Hohenbourg served to mark the border with Lorraine and secure the imperial road from Kaiserslautern to Haguenau. A first castle was likely built at the end of the 12th century by a branch of the Fleckenstein, taking the name Hohenbourg, later known as Puller de Hohenbourg (first mentioned in 1263). In 1482, upon the death of the last heir, it passed to the Sickingen, a powerful Palatine family. François de Sickingen transformed the fortress in 1520 to adapt it for artillery, with embellishments added between 1572 and 1575. The Hohenbourg then served as an occasional residence for the Sickingen before being destroyed by Montclar's armies in 1680 on the orders of Louis XIV.
67510 Wingen
(Bild ©INFRA – ADT)
50 Château de Loewenstein
Located near the Hohenbourg, the Loewenstein occupies the southern spur of Schlossberg, a sandstone cliff. Dated to the 12th century, it is first mentioned in 1283, when the imperial bailiff Otto III of Ochsenstein seized the castle, occupied by knights refusing to recognize Rudolf of Habsburg. Around 1370, the site was divided between the Ochsenstein and Hans Streuff of Landenberg. In 1386, Hennel and Hans of Bitche, allies of the Ochsenstein, launched raids from the castle before it was dismantled by Strasbourg. Its final destruction remains a mystery. Today, few remnants remain, but the site offers beautiful views of the Northern Vosges and the Palatinate.
67510 Wingen
(Bild ©INFRA – ADT)
51 Château du Pflixbourg
The site of Pflixbourg was occupied as early as the Bronze Age and reoccupied in the 13th century, first mentioned in 1220. At an altitude of 425 meters, it serves as a strategic garrison castle between the plain and the Fecht Valley. It was the residence of Conrad Werner of Hattstatt, imperial bailiff, and the place where his wife, Stéphanie, Countess of Ferrette, passed away. Sold in 1434 to Smassmann of Ribeaupierre, it was later destroyed during a conflict. The polygonal castle features a donjon, living quarters, and a cistern. Listed as a historical monument in 1968, it is associated with the legend of a White Lady.
68920 Wintzenheim
www.tourisme-eguisheim-rouffach.com
(Bild ©INFRA – ADT)
52 Château du Hohlandsbourg
At an altitude of 620 meters, Hohlandsbourg Castle offers a 360° panoramic view of the Black Forest, the Alsace plain, and the Vosges mountains. Built by the Habsburgs between the 13th and 17th centuries, it is a remarkable example of Alsatian military architecture until the Thirty Years' War, which led to its ruin. Its high granite walls enclose a large courtyard dominated by the upper castle. An interactive and playful trail allows visitors to discover the history, organization, and evolution of the site, from the Bronze Age to the present day.
68920 Wintzenheim
www.chateau-hohlandsbourg.com
(Bild ©M. Schampion – ADT)
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