Fleckenstein Castle

Fleckenstein Castle, locally known as Château-fort de Fleckenstein, lies east of the German village of Hirschtal, in the Bas-Rhin department in France. This area is also known as the Northern Alsace or the Northern Vosges.

Fleckenstein Castle was built in the first half or mid-12th century by the Fleckenstein family, who were ministerials of the Hohenstaufen dynasty. At that time, it was situated near a road between two imperial palaces in Haguenau and Kaiserslautern and was thus strategically important. It was first mentioned, indirectly, in 1174.

The castle was restructured many times, most notably in the 16th century, between 1541 and 1570. The Fleckenstein family retained ownership of the castle until 1720, when they died out. It was taken by French troops under the famous Sébastien Le Prestre de Vauban in 1674, during the Franco-Dutch War, without offering any resistance. In 1680, it was completely destroyed by troops led by General Ezéchiel du Mas, Comte de Mélac, commander of the troops of the cavalry general Joseph de Montclar, for Louis XIV of France.

During the French Revolution, the castle ruins were confiscated and sold as 'bien nationaux'. Until 1890, the castle ruins were left to deteriorate. Later, it was declared a monument and protected.

The semi-troglodyte Fleckenstein Castle was built upon, in, and around a sandstone rock that is 90 m long, 30 m high, and 10 m wide, making it resemble a ship sailing through a green sea of trees. There are many rooms, stairs, and passageways to explore.

Currently, Fleckenstein Castle is a museum and can be visited for a fee. It is the second-most visited castle in the Alsace region, after Haut-Kœnigsbourg Castle, and is the main attraction of the so-called "Route of the Four Castles," a walking trail that also includes the nearby castle ruins of Lœwenstein, Hohenbourg, and Wegelnburg (the last of which is just over the border in Germany). It can be quite busy with tourists, most of whom only visit Fleckenstein and not the other three ruins. A great castle ruin; highly recommended.

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