The château du Haut-Kœnigsbourg is a medieval castle located at Orschwiller, Alsace
– in the Vosges mountains just west of the city of Sélestat.
It’s situated in a strategic location on a rocky spur overlooking the Upper Rhine Plain;
built in the early 1200s, so it was used by successive powers from the Middle Ages.
In 1633 during the Thirty Years War the castle was burnt by enemy mercenaries
and shrouded in ruins for nearly three hundred years.
But in 1900-08 , when Alsace was german,
it was rebuilt at the behest of the german emperor Wilhelm II.
Today it is a huge tourist attraktion, attracting more than 500,000 visitors a year.
The inspiration comes from wonderful “Restlessjo” and her “Monday walk” themes
a walk on the eastside edge of the Vosges Mountains.
The trip up the mountain to the castle can be done in many ways, there is asphalt road
on foot, a little sweaty
by bike, my own favorite
own car, with competition for parking spaces
by bus, probably the most pleasantest.
There is the possibility of guided tours through the castle
there are also plenty of exhibitions both active reality and inactive but informative exhibits.
These photos are from a walk on my own.
Ah, this brings back memories….
#.suej
Yeah, in fact so I had guessed that you have been there… 😀
🙂
That is one fierce looking castle, Drake! You wouldn’t walk up to that and knock on the door without fear of boiling tar landing on your head! On the other hand… I don’t mind a challenge 🙂 Halt- who goes there?
Superb shots and angles and thank you again for your wonderful response. Have a happy week!
#.jo
So glad you enjoyed the walk – don’t be afraid the alsatians are friendly people, very friendly I know it – they are so kind to me, and simple man who love the way they live… 😀 😀 😀
beautiful and one of my favorite places!
#.cindy
Yeah a very fascinating place so impressive and so full of history… 🙂
Actually when I look at it again, it’s quite a friendly looking castle and reminds me of a Polish one I was inside last summer 🙂
#.jo
In fact those people who built castles were traveling people
so maybe they built polish castles too – who knows… 🙂
So glad you enjoyed this… 🙂
Thank you for the lovely tour! 🙂
#.jet eliot
So glad you enjoyed it, really do appreciate… 🙂
Magnificent castle! Thank you for the tour, Drake. Great photos!
#.amy
So glad you enjoyed this walk, really do appreciate… 🙂
Looks like it would be quite the bike ride Drake!
#.sue
Sure you and your Superman wouldn’t regret a visit in this area… 😀
So you could see if you could follow the great “monster mountain bike” belonging to me… 😀 😀 😀
A wonderful castle, Drake. Thsnks for taking me along. 🙂
#.sylvia
So glad you enjoyed this walk, a walk which remember us about history… 🙂
Thank you, Le Drake! These shots are a wonderful introspection. 🙂
#.resa
So glad you enjoyed this walk along history and architecture… 🙂
🙂
I love this set of photos, Drake. I pinned two of them on my Pintrest boards (for now under Photography).
#.orples
So glad you enjoyed this castle walk, really do appreciate… 🙂
I love visiting castles Drake so thanks for the virtual tour of Château du Haut-Kœnigsbourg (love the French/German blend!). Wonderful photos as always 🙂
#.rosemaylilly
Me too, love the blend – typically alsatian, the reason why I love Alsace – not german not french, but alsatian – they are their own… 😀
Meget spændende sted og gode billeder, Drake.
So many beautful photos.
Ah but the castle. There are none around here. I could spend days and take thousands of photos.
Maybe someday.
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Looks like a beautiful place.
#.cg
A very fascinating place – impressive overall seen
but at the same time many standalone impressive facets… 🙂
I love castles! This reminds me a little bit of Château de Chillon in Switzerland.
#.jude
Actually the reason could be that the building workers were swiss when the castle was built originally – don’t know if it’s swiss architecture style… 🙂
Hiervan wil ik de vertaling nog lezen. Bakkie! Maandagochtend op de kop van Jut aan de Kostverlorenkade * Amsterdam,