The Haut-Koenigsbourg Castle

A very unusual castle

No introduction is really needed for the Haut-Koenigsbourg, which is one of France's most widely visited monuments attracting 600,000 visitors per year. The castle occupied a strategic position when it was built back in the 12th century. Its purpose was to protect the wine and wheat routes to the north, and the silver and salt routes running from west to east. It was reduced to rubble by the Swedes during the Thirty Years War and abandoned. In 1899, Kaiser Wilhelm II decided to have the castle fully rebuilt with the aim of making this a museum and a symbol of Alsace's return to Germany. Although built relatively recently, the castle has remained true to the spirit of mediaeval architecture. Inside the building, the sheer refinement of the rooms is extremely impressive, with their wall paintings, Renaissance furniture and enormous cast iron stoves. A collection of mediaeval weapons is located in the basement including crossbows, swords and armour of all kinds.

An outstanding view

Perched at a height of almost 800 m, this famous mediaeval fortress looks down majestically across the Alsatian plain. From the top of its towers, the castle offers an unbeatable view across the Vosges, the Rhine, the Black Forest and even across the Alps.

Information :

Château du Haut-Koenigsbourg
D159
D159
67600 Orschwiller
Tel : 03 69 33 25 00
> contact by email
> visit the website

Opening :

Open from 01/01/2011
Ouverture: Fermé le 1er janvier, 1er mai, 25 décembre. Billetterie: Jan, fév, nov, déc : 9h30-12h et 13h-16h30 - Mars et oct : 9h30-17h00 - Avril, mai et sept : 9h15-17h15 - Juin à août : 9h15-18h00 - (le château ferme le soir 45 min. après la billetterie
Fermeture(s) exceptionnelles: 1er janvier, 1er mai, 25 décembre

Price :

Gratuité (age limite) : 18 ans
Groupe (nb de personnes mini) : 20
Autres réductions : Entrée gratuite le 1er dimanche du mois du 1er novembre au 31 mars, durant la Nuit des musées et les Journées du patrimoine

Services:

Accès handicapés: Auditif, Mental
Animaux acceptés: Admis

Visits:

Formule de visite proposées: Visite avec outil de guidage, Visite guidée pour groupes sur RDV, Visite guidée pour particuliers, Visite libre
Langues parlées: Allemand, Anglais, Espagnol, Italien
Durée de la visite/manifestation: 1h30