Haut-Koenigsbourg

Last wednesday I went to the gorgeous medieval Chateau du Haut-Koenigsbourg. Thought to have been built in the 12th century, this castle has a lengthy history. Strategically placed, its rocky, promontory site was ideal for observing the main routes in the region, and provided a good fall-back point. It was pillaged and burnt during the 30 years war, despite fortifications built during the 15th century. It lay in desolation for some time, and then towards the end of the 19th century the town of Selestat gifted the castle to Kaiser Wilhelm II. At this time Alsace was German territory and Wilhelm decided to undertake a great restoration to symbolically mark the western extent of his empire. The restoration was one of great scientific process for the time. The architect, Bodo Ebhardt, listed all the archaeological remains found on the site, studied archive documents, analysed the architecture… and when in doubt, referred to examples chosen among structures built around the same time. Restoration work was carried out from 1900 to 1908.
Then came the Treaty of Versailles in 1919, and the Haut-Kœnigsbourg was handed over to the French government and awarded the status of National palace. The Haut-Koenigsbourg has now been completely restored, and was classified as a historical monument in 1993.

Being a castle from the Renaissance, there are a few must haves:

Keg of wine -- 80 HL of it

Impressive dead animal display

Weapons for skewering people

Weapons for skewering the people's horses (there is a difference -- these are longer)Despite the rain, or maybe because of it, the castle seemed to have grown up from the mountain.
They incorporated the castle into the natural rock structures:

I miss WNC mountains. I felt I was very close to home though, up on the mountain of the Haut-Koenigsburg castle:

Me, Celine, Patrick