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Visit of the Haut-Koenigsbourg Castle (summer 2020, time slot reservation required)

Castles

Gratuit avec le Alsace Pass

From

20.00 €

10% in your kitty


Visible from afar, the imposing fortress nestles at an altitude of almost 800 metres in the heart of the Vosges forest, dominating the wine route which winds at its feet and offers a grandiose panorama of the Alsace plain, the valleys and balloons of the Vosges, the Black Forest and, on a clear day, the Alps...

In the snow or in the middle of summer, discovering Haut-Koenigsbourg is a unique experience in all seasons. Standing on a rocky spur, it offers a grandiose panorama. Built in the middle of a forest, it offers a beautiful excursion.

Youngsters and families enjoy visiting a medieval fortress, while history buffs delve into the past of this Alsatian landmark and the curious are interested in the restoration of an exceptional monument.

Horaires

The château is open all year round except 1 January, 25 and 26 December.

January, February, November, December: 9.30am* - 12pm and 1.15pm - 5.15pm
March, October: 9.30am* - 5.45pm 
April, May, September: 9.15am* - 6pm
June, July, August: 9.15am* - 6.45pm 

*On Mondays the castle opens at 10.30 am
In the evening, last entry 1 hour before the castle closes.

Contact

www.haut-koenigsbourg.fr

03 69 33 25 00


Haut-Koenigsbourg Castle

Built in the 12th century, the Haut-Koenigsbourg castle has for centuries been the witness to conflicts and rivalries between lords, kings and emperors. The castle has had a succession of illustrious owners who have left their mark on its history, and numerous events that have changed its appearance... To pass through the high gate of Haut-Koenigsbourg is to plunge into the world of the Middle Ages.

From the lower courtyard - with its inn, forge and mill - to the spiral staircases leading to the furnished flats of the lord, discover the architecture, the furnishings... but also a whole atmosphere steeped in history.

The drawbridge, the weapons room, the keep and the cannons are a constant reminder of the purpose of this mountain fortress built by an imperial Germanic family in the 12th century, which was subsequently besieged, destroyed and pillaged.

Abandoned after 1633, this prestigious castle was offered in 1899 by the town of Sélestat to William II of Hohenzollern. He dreamed of resurrecting the old Germanic Empire and fulfilled his passion for the Middle Ages by entrusting the restoration of Haut-Koenigsbourg Castle to the architect Bodo Ebhardt, a specialist in medieval fortifications.

At the beginning of the 20th century, the political dimension of this major project was to legitimise the young imperial dynasty of the Hohenzollerns and affirm the power of the new empire in the eyes of the world. Today, we admire more the educational aspect of this restoration, which without being indisputable, is mostly plausible.