Château de Wangenbourg

The Château de Wangenbourg is a ruined castle in the commune of Wangenbourg-Engenthal in the Bas-Rhin département of France.

Geographical situation

The castle is situated on a rocky promontory, in the forest south east of the village of Wangenbourg. It can be accessed from the village via the rue du Château and then a small path. The castle is 100 m from the village.

History

The castle was built in the 13th century on a rocky outcrop in south east of the commune of Wangenbourg-Engenthal, by the lords of Wangen on the site of an older castle whose history is lost. The fortress was mentioned for the first time in 1357 in a charter of the abbey at Andlau.

In the 14th century, the Wangens lost control of their castle and, ruined a century later, they were unable to maintain it.

In 1504, Holy Roman Emperor Maximilien I, having vanquished the Prince-elector, Philipp, in the war of succession of Bavaria, confiscated the castle from the cousins Hans and Stephan von Wangen for the count Tiestein, who himself gave it to the Archbishop of Strasbourg, Wilhelm III von Hohnstein, in 1516. Nevertheless, a branch of descendants of the von Wangens, Georg and Hartmann, continued to occupy the castle. Between 1535 and 1550, they reconstructed their logis in the Renaissance style (see photograph below).

From 1578, the Archbishop of Strasbourg and the lords of Wangen disputed property rights conerning the castle. The Wangens were expelled in 1578, but re-established their rights in 1595. In 1680, the castle was occupied by French troops. In 1702, it was in ruins.

Restoration of the castle started at the beginning of the 20th century, and again in 1931. The footbridge in the photograph was constructed in 1961 to replace the old drawbridge.

Plan

Description
1 Principal moat
2 17th century access ramp
3 Entance and access ramp to the lower court
4 Lower court
5 Footbridge and main entrance
6 Moat
7 Hartmann de Wangen's residence
8 Georg de Wangen's residence
9 Spiral staircase tower
10 Steam room
11 Kitchen oven
12 Chapel tower
13 Grand Gothig residence
14 Filtration cistern
15 Tour-habitat
16 Keep
17 Tomb

Remains

The vast polygonal enceinte is still visible, as well as the bases of the walls on the interior buildings. The castle ruins have been listed since 6 December 1898 as a monument historique by the French Ministry of Culture and is privately owned.

External links

References

This article incorporates information from n class="plainlinks">this version of the equivalent article on the French Wikipedia.
Listed in the following categories:
Post a comment
Tips & Hints
Arrange By:
GAUDOUIN Frederic
31 July 2015
Château avec beaucoup de charme, visite du donjon gratuite avec vue sur toute la vallée, jusqu'à Wasselonne
GAUDOUIN Frederic
31 July 2015
Endroit très calme avec très belle vue sur toute la vallée
GAUDOUIN Frederic
31 July 2015
Superbe endroit très calme
Thomas @_teecee
31 July 2011
vom Turm hat man eine gute Rundumsicht
Load more comments
foursquare.com
3.6/10
80 people have been here
Map
5 Rue du Château, 67710 Wangenbourg-Engenthal, France Get directions

Château de Wangenbourg on Foursquare

Château de Wangenbourg on Facebook

Hotels nearby

See all hotels See all
Parc Hôtel

starting $124

Hotel Restaurant des Vosges

starting $122

Hotel Spa et Restaurant Au Chasseur

starting $104

Hotel-Restaurant De La Poste

starting $71

Auberge du Bel Air

starting $87

Hotel Le Clos Du Hahnenberg

starting $96

Recommended sights nearby

See all See all
Add to wishlist
I've been here
Visited
Château du Nideck

The Château du Nideck is a ruined castle located in the commune of

Add to wishlist
I've been here
Visited
Château du Petit-Ringelstein

The Château du Petit-Ringelstein (or Château du Petit-Ringelsberg) i

Add to wishlist
I've been here
Visited
Château de Hohenstein

The Château de Hohenstein is a ruined castle situated on the road

Add to wishlist
I've been here
Visited
Château du Grand Ringelstein

The Château du Grand Ringelstein (or Château Ringelsbourg) is a r

Add to wishlist
I've been here
Visited
Fort de Mutzig

The Fort de Mutzig, also known as Feste Kaiser Wilhelm II, is located

Add to wishlist
I've been here
Visited
Rohan Castle

Rohan Castle (French: Château des Rohan, German: Rohan-Schloss), also

Add to wishlist
I've been here
Visited
Château de Guirbaden

The Château de Guirbaden (or Girbaden) is a ruined castle in the

Add to wishlist
I've been here
Visited
Château des Rohan (Mutzig)

The Château des Rohan ('Castle of the Rohan') is a former castle and

Similar tourist attractions

See all See all
Add to wishlist
I've been here
Visited
Bolsover Castle

Bolsover Castle is a castle in Bolsover, Derbyshire, England (grid

Add to wishlist
I've been here
Visited
Kenilworth Castle

Kenilworth Castle is a castle located in Kenilworth, Warwickshire,

Add to wishlist
I've been here
Visited
Conisbrough Castle

Conisbrough Castle is a 12th-century castle in Conisbrough, South

Add to wishlist
I've been here
Visited
Beeston Castle

Beeston Castle is a former Royal castle in Beeston, Cheshire, England

Add to wishlist
I've been here
Visited
Cooling Castle

Cooling Castle Coordinates: was built in the 1380s by John Cobham on

See all similar places