Château du Frankenbourg

Looking out over the surrounding landscape from the castle, it's easy to understand why Frankenbourg was built on this conical peak (703 m.), slightly detached from the Altenberg sandstone massif.

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

It also offers views of Sélestat, Ortenberg, Ungersberg and the Champ du Feu massif... Construction of the castle by the Counts of Frankenbourg probably dates back to the early 12th century.

In 1196, the de Frankenbourg-Werd family acquired the position of Landgrave of Lower Alsace, thus representing the Emperor for this region, in fact what we might today call the Lower Rhine. Indeed, the coat of arms of the Bas Rhin department is still 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 contracted it out to various families: the Lützelsheims, the Uttenheim zum Ramsteins, the Bocks and the Hohensteins. From 1489 to 1789, the Grand Chapître alone administered the castle and the Comte 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. It was last mentioned in 1634.

(Source: SHVV).

By municipal decree dated April 30, 2025, and following technical advice from the DRAC and a request from the State, access to the pathway leading to the entrance to Frankenbourg Castle and to the dungeon platform is forbidden to the general public until further notice.

DATAtourisme France