The Haut-Kœnigsbourg Castle was rebuilt to reflect Kaiser Wilhelm II‘s idealized version of the Middle Ages. While its exact beginnings remain unclear, a document from 1147 confirms its existence on this rock as early as the 12th century. Over the years, the fortress played a key role in defending the Alsace region and was controlled by various rulers, including the Hohenzollern kings, bandits, and the powerful Thierstein family. However, its importance came to an end in 1633 when it was destroyed by Swedish forces during the Thirty Years’ War.
After remaining in ruins for over two centuries, the castle found a new and influential owner. Following the Franco-Prussian War in 1871, the Alsace-Moselle region was annexed by Germany. During this time, it became popular to gift old castles to heads of state. In 1899, the fortress was presented to the German Kaiser, Wilhelm II, because of its historical ties to the Hohenzollern family, his ancestral lineage.
Restoring
Wilhelm II sought to restore the castle with a romanticized medieval look, entrusting architect Bodo Ebhardt to bring the structure back to its former glory. Without original blueprints, Ebhardt had to rely on his interpretation of what the castle might have looked like, in line with the Kaiser’s idealized vision of the past. Wilhelm II frequently visited the site to oversee the progress and ensure that his dream of recreating a picturesque medieval era was realized.
The restoration wasn’t just about appearances; it also had a political agenda. Wilhelm II instructed Ebhardt to highlight the Hohenzollern family’s influence throughout the reconstruction, using the project to legitimize his lineage and strengthen the ties between his regime and the Alsace-Moselle region, which had only recently become part of the German Empire.
However, in 1919, just 11 years after the Kaiser officially opened the castle, it was handed back to France as part of the Treaty of Versailles, ending its short-lived connection with the German Empire.
Before You Go
Haut-Kœnigsbourg Castle is located near the village of Orschwiller and is open to visitors year-round, except on January 1, May 1, and December 25. The visiting hours vary depending on the season.
