Hohlandsbourg Castle

Hohlandsbourg Castle, locally known as Château du Hohlandsbourg, Haut-Landsbourg or Burg Hohlandsberg, lies south of the village of Wintzenheim in the Haut-Rhin department in France. This area is also known as the Southern Alsace or the Vosges.

Situated on a 644 meters high mountaintop, Hohlandsbourg Castle was built in 1279 by Siegfried de Gundolsheim, provost of the town of Colmar, on the impulse of the Austrian royal Habsburg family. Already in 1281 the castle was besieged by Otto d'Ochsenstein, the bailiff of the Alsace, who had allied with Colmar's townspeople. This resulted in the castle being set on fire and destroyed. After its rebuilding it was gradually reinforced and enlarged by the Count of Lupfen in the 14th and 15th century, and by the Habsburg's war chief and counselor; Lazarus von Schwendi, in the 16th century.

In the 1633, during the 30-Years war, the people of Colmar, now that they had liberated themselves from the yoke of the Habsburgs, were worried about this fort that was still at Austria's disposal and occupied by a Swedish garrison. So they took the castle and removed its cannons. Then, on the orders of Richelieu, a small French army was stationed in the castle. But as they learned that a strong Austrian army was coming to take the castle and again garrison it, they rendered the castle unusable by blowing up the keep and setting the castle on fire. After that the castle remained a ruin.

Hohlandsbourg Castle is a standard garrison castle; barracks and industrial buildings around a large courtyard. The large (100 by 70 meters), rectangular, 13th century enclosure was equipped with watchtowers in the 16th century. The principal access, protected by a 16th century, triangular bastion, was equipped by a door with a drawbridge.

Although its interior feels a bit empty, this is a nice one to visit, also because of its magnificent panorama of the surrounding countryside. It's one of the few castles in the Alsace region which require an entrance fee. Inside there are a little shop, a tavern and a small museum.

Hohlandsbourg Castle is one of the castles on the so-called "Route of the 5 Castles", which also includes nearby Pflixbourg Castle and the castle group of the 3 Éguisheim castles. A nice route but it is closed to vehicles from mid-November to mid-March every year.

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Hohlandsbourg Castle

Hohlandsbourg Castle, locally known as Château du Hohlandsbourg, Haut-Landsbourg or Burg Hohlandsberg, lies south of the village of Wintzenheim in the Haut-Rhin department in France. This area is also known as the Southern Alsace or the Vosges.

Situated on a 644 meters high mountaintop, Hohlandsbourg Castle was built in 1279 by Siegfried de Gundolsheim, provost of the town of Colmar, on the impulse of the Austrian royal Habsburg family. Already in 1281 the castle was besieged by Otto d'Ochsenstein, the bailiff of the Alsace, who had allied with Colmar's townspeople. This resulted in the castle being set on fire and destroyed. After its rebuilding it was gradually reinforced and enlarged by the Count of Lupfen in the 14th and 15th century, and by the Habsburg's war chief and counselor; Lazarus von Schwendi, in the 16th century.

In the 1633, during the 30-Years war, the people of Colmar, now that they had liberated themselves from the yoke of the Habsburgs, were worried about this fort that was still at Austria's disposal and occupied by a Swedish garrison. So they took the castle and removed its cannons. Then, on the orders of Richelieu, a small French army was stationed in the castle. But as they learned that a strong Austrian army was coming to take the castle and again garrison it, they rendered the castle unusable by blowing up the keep and setting the castle on fire. After that the castle remained a ruin.

Hohlandsbourg Castle is a standard garrison castle; barracks and industrial buildings around a large courtyard. The large (100 by 70 meters), rectangular, 13th century enclosure was equipped with watchtowers in the 16th century. The principal access, protected by a 16th century, triangular bastion, was equipped by a door with a drawbridge.

Although its interior feels a bit empty, this is a nice one to visit, also because of its magnificent panorama of the surrounding countryside. It's one of the few castles in the Alsace region which require an entrance fee. Inside there are a little shop, a tavern and a small museum.

Hohlandsbourg Castle is one of the castles on the so-called "Route of the 5 Castles", which also includes nearby Pflixbourg Castle and the castle group of the 3 Éguisheim castles. A nice route but it is closed to vehicles from mid-November to mid-March every year.

Gallery

 
Details
Hits: 6505