Built 13th century Current use Ruins Address 68150 Ribeauvillé, France | Original use Castle Designated 1841 & 1930 Architectural style Middle Ages | |
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Similar Château de Saint‑Ulrich, Château du Haut‑Ribeaupierre, Taennchel, Château de Pflixbourg, Château du Birkenfels | ||
The Château du Giersberg (formerly named Petit-Ribeaupierre) is one of three castles (with the Château de Saint-Ulrich and the Haut-Ribeaupierre) which overlook the commune of Ribeauvillé in the Haut-Rhin département of France. It stands at an altitude of 528 m.
The Lords of Ribeaupierre built the castle, then named Stein (La Roche), in the 13th century. They rebuilt it after a fire caused by lightning in 1288. In 1304, they gave it to their vassals, the knights of Guirsberg, from whom the castle took its name. The Guirsbergs kept it until they died out in the 15th century. It was abandoned in the 17th century.
The remains currently visible date from several epochs:
It has been listed since 1841 as a monument historique by the French Ministry of Culture.