Hohenbourg Castle

Hohenbourg Castle, locally known as Château du Hohenbourg, lies in the woods northwest of the town of Wingen, in the Bas-Rhin department in France. It is situated just some 300 m from the border with Germany. This area is also known as the Northern Alsace or the Northern Vosges.

Hohenbourg Castle was probably built during the first half of the 13th century by a Gottfried Puller. His descendants would become known as the Puller of Hohenbourg. The castle was first mentioned in 1262. The Puller of Hohenbourg family kept ownership of the castle until the end of the 15th century when it passed to the Von Sickingen family.

Franz von Sickingen strengthened the castle in 1504 and also built a bastion at the entrance of the castle. In 1523 however, it was taken and destroyed by the combined troops of the Elector Palatine Ludwig V, the Archbishop-Elector of Trier Richard von Greiffenklau zu Vollrads and Philip I, Landgrave of Hesse. The ruined castle was rebuilt by the Von Sickingen in 1542 in Renaissance style.

In the 17th century, during the Thirty Years' War, Hohenbourg Castle was badly damaged by Swedish troops. In 1680 it was finally demolished by French troops led by the cavalry general Joseph de Montclar.

Hohenbourg Castle is the highest castle in the Northern Vosges, situated upon and around a large rock. It is freely accessible. A very nice castle ruin. 

The scarce remains of Lœwenstein Castle, probably built as a siege castle to Hohenbourg in the 13th century but later used by the Puller of Hohenbourg as an advanced post, lies some 200 m to the south. Just over the border, in Germany, some 600 m to the north, lies Wegelnburg Castle. Fleckenstein Castle is also nearby.

Gallery