Château du Haut-Kœnigsbourg
A red sandstone castle on a hilltop 755 meters high, rebuilt by Kaiser Wilhelm II, with views over the entire Alsace plain.
Château du Haut-Kœnigsbourg sits at 755 meters on the eastern slope of the Vosges Mountains. A castle stood here as early as the 12th century. Swedish troops burned it during the Thirty Years’ War, and it lay in ruins for more than two centuries. In 1899, local residents presented the ruins to Kaiser Wilhelm II, the German Emperor who then ruled Alsace. He commissioned architect Ebhardt to rebuild it between 1900 and 1908, aiming to recreate its 15th-century medieval appearance. Inside, you can visit the drawbridge, the mill, the Lion Gate, the lord’s residence, the armory and the Emperor’s Hall, which display medieval weapons and furniture. There are also gardens and a cannon terrace. From the ramparts you can see the Alsace plain, the Rhine and the Black Forest in Germany in the distance. On clear days, the Alps are visible. The castle is open year-round, except for a maintenance closure in early January. Hours change with the seasons, roughly 9:15 to 18:00 in summer and 9:30 to 16:30 in winter. Adult tickets cost about 9 to 12 euros. From October to March, entry may be free on the first Sunday of each month, so check the official website. Getting there: in peak season, shuttle buses run up from Sélestat station. Driving from Colmar takes about 40 minutes, and parking at the top is limited. The mountain road has many bends and can ice over in winter.
Opening hours
About 09:15–18:00 (until about 16:30 in winter)
Nearby sights
- La Montagne des Singes
- Ribeauvillé
- Riquewihr
- Kaysersberg
- Colmar Old Town & Unterlinden Museum
- Maison des Têtes, Colmar
- St. Martin's Church, Colmar
- Musée Bartholdi