Château du Frankenbourg

From the castle, by observing the surrounding landscape, the visitor will easily understand the choice of this conical peak (703 m.), slightly detached from the sandstone massif of the Altenberg, for the construction of the Frankenbourg.

At the confluence of the two valleys (Val d'Argent and Val de Villé), shortly before their common outlet on the plain of central Alsace, this natural lookout allowed to control the ancient Salt Route, the Silver Ore Route, the Vineyard Route.

There is also a view of Selestat, the Ortenberg, the Ungersberg, the Champ du Feu massif... The construction of the castle by the Counts of Frankenbourg probably dates back to the beginning of the 12th century.

In 1196, the family of Frankenbourg-Werd acquired the function of Landgrave of Lower Alsace, thus becoming the Emperor's representative for this region, in fact what we might today call the Lower Rhine. Moreover, the coat of arms of the Lower Rhine department is still today that of the Lords of Frankenbourg-Werd.

The family rapidly declined and the fiefdom of Frankenbourg passed to the bishopric of Strasbourg, which from 1393 onwards engaged it to various families: the Lützelsheims, the Uttenheims zum Ramstein, the Bocks and the Hohensteins. From 1489 to 1789, the Grand Chapître alone administered the castle and Count Ban (villages on the right bank of the Giessen). Still inhabited during the Thirty Years' War (1618-1648), the castle was gradually abandoned from the 17th century onwards. Its last mention dates back to 1634.

(Source: SHVV)

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