Medieval Castles in the Vosges
On the Medieval Trail in Alsace/France
France's Alsace has countless feudal castles. Haut-Barr is a major tourist attraction. Hiking to castle ruins on the Alsace-Palatinate border leads off the trodden trail.
The Alsace-Palatinate region was part of the Holy Roman Empire during the reign of the Saliens and Staufer (843-1254). In the 17th and 20th centuries it changed hands between France and Germany several times. Its largest city is Strasbourg, a UNESCO world heritage center, famous for the Cathedralof Our Lady of Strasbourg. The cathedral is widely considered as one of the finest examples of Gothic architecture. After the city of Strasbourg, Château du Haut-Kœnigsbourg (Haut Barr Castle) is the most visited tourist attraction in the Alsace.
Sleeping Beauty's Castle
Château du Haut-Koenigsbourg (Haut-Barr Castle) near Saverne was built during the time of Frederick I Barbarossa in the 12th century. It took its name from the original Königsburg, German for "king's castle". Sitting on three large cliffs it is a typical rock fortress. Due to the spectacular views from up here over the Vosges mountains and across to the Black Forest the castle is nicknamed "eye of the Alsace". On a clear day the spire of Strasbourg Cathedral is visible and sometimes even the Alps towards the South. Château du Haut-Koenigsbourg was home to the Strasbourg bishops before it was destroyed in the 30 years war. King Wilhelm II had it restored in 1902-08. Since it had been abandoned for a few hundred years, like Sleeping Beauty's castle, it became the inspiration of romantic poets and artists. Haut Barr was used as the setting for Jean Renoir's masterpiece, the film "Grand Illusion".
The castle is open all year and offers regular guided tours in French. Tours in English and German can be arranged by appointment or take the self-guided audio tour.
How to get there: 25 minutes south of Strasbourg off the A35, or about 40 minutes from Baden-Baden (Germany) on N59 from Freiburg and 45 minutes from the EuroAirport (Basel-Mulhouse-Freiburg).
Circuit Hike to four Castles
For a completely different castle experience consider a circuit hike (12km) at the French/German border. Chances are you might have a castle all to yourselves. Starting point is the German village Nothweiler.
- TheWegelnburg(572m) is the castle with the highest elevation in the Pfalz (Palatinate). First mentioned in 1246, it was besieged, destroyed and rebuild several times. It served as the official seat for administrators of the Pfalz before its final destruction by French troops in 1689. The French-German border (Alsace and Palatinate) runs just a few meters South of the Wegelnburg. From here it is only a short walk to the Hohenbourg on the Alsatian side.
- Hohenbourgwas constructed in the late 13th century and has been home of the Hohenbourg Family. They had feudal relations with the king, the count of Zweibruecken and the Counts Palatine. The castle was destroyed in the 30 years war and then again in the 1780's.
- Loewenstein Castle was destroyed in the 14th century while being used as a hideout for robber barons.Its scant remains sit high on two sandstone pinnacles separated by a gorge.
- Fleckenstein Castle is another cliff castle dating back to 1174. The Reichsministeriale and later sovereigns of Fleckenstein played an important role in the region. They acted as high public servants until the mid 16th century. Fleckenstein was destroyed in 1680. In 1720 King Ludwig XV. gave the property consisting of 30 villages to the house of Rohan-Soubise.
Restaurant/Hotel "Zur Wegelnburg" in Nothweiler is famous for its Tarte Flambée (German: Flammkuchen), an Alsatian specialty of thin bread with various toppings baked in a woodfire oven.
Castle Information Center Lemberg (maps and directions in German/English/French)
More castles in the neighboring Pfalz
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