Château du Wasigenstein

Updated on Dec 18, 2024

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Address 67510 Niedersteinbach, France Hours Open today · Open 24 hoursFridayOpen 24 hoursSaturdayOpen 24 hoursSundayOpen 24 hoursMondayOpen 24 hoursTuesdayOpen 24 hoursWednesdayOpen 24 hoursThursdayOpen 24 hours Similar Château de Frœnsbourg, Château de Hohenbourg, Château de Lutzelhardt, Château de Fleckenstein, Château du Petit‑Arnsberg

The Château du Wasigenstein is a ruined castle in the commune of Niedersteinbach in the Bas-Rhin département of France.

History

The site was first known as the centre of the German legend of Waltharius in the 10th century.

The castle is state property and has been listed since 1898 as a monument historique by the French Ministry of Culture.

Two castles were built here in the 13th century each dependent on the other.

at Grand-Wasigenstein, the former cistern, the keep, well-built rooms, etc.

at Petit-Wasigenstein, a habitable keep with a thick walls, an enormous windlass capable of lifting considerable loads

access stairways cut into the rock: a monumental architectural work provided a steep ascent to the summits

a rift fault, separating the two castles ("the fault of Walther")

alveolar and cathedral-like erosion on the south face of the rocky outcrop

a viewpoint over the Langenbach valley and towards Obersteinbach

From the Wengelsbach pass on the D 190, parking at Wasigenstein, a footpath of the Club Vosgien, signposted with red ractangles, leads to the castle.

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