The 4 chateaux circuit
Hard
Club VosgienWitnesses to the tumultuous past of the region, many medieval castles overlook the forests of the Vosges Nord - Pfälzerwald Transboundary Biosphere Reserve for generations. Built between the 12th and mid-14th centuries on impressive rocky outcrops, these castles, mostly troglodyte, seem to be one with their rocky support and offer superb views.
Description
From the car park, join the white-striped red rectangle trail towards the Gimbelhof's medieval playground.
At the Gimbelhof, turn left towards the playground following the red disc. After the playground, turn left again. Go to the right of the big rock on the path then continue on the path opposite to the Hohenbourg pass.
At the pass, after the tree bearing the sign "Col Hohenbourg", continue on the white-striped rectangle path, starting on the right towards the ruin of Loewenstein, then continue towards the ruins of Hohenbourg.
At the Maidenbrunnen spring continue straight ahead to the Wegelnburg Castle. Then go back and walk down the red rectangle path towards Fleckenstein Castle.
From Fleckenstein Castle, return to the car park via the charbonniers trail along the access road to the Fleckenstein site.
- Departure : Parking at Fleckenstein Castle or Gimbelhof
- Arrival : Parking at Fleckenstein Castle or Gimbelhof
- Towns crossed : Lembach and Wingen
3 points of interest
Château de Loewenstein - T. Bichler 
Castle-church-abbeyLoewenstein fortified Chateau
Built at the end of the 12th century at an altitude of 530 m and 300 m from the Hohenbourg, then ceded to the Ochsensteins, the castle became a den of robber knights before being besieged and destroyed by the troops of the Lichtenbergs and the bishop of Strasbourg in 1386. It was not rebuilt. Today, few remains remain except for traces of a pentagonal keep and a dwelling on the northern part, a cistern serving as access to the southern part, a spiral staircase and a well.
Château de Hohenbourg - A. Dorschner Castle-church-abbeyHohenbourg fortified Chateau
This semi-troglodyte castle built in, above and around a rock at an altitude of 550 m dates from the 13th century. Attacked twice in the 15th century, the new owners built important defensive works. But the castle was largely destroyed during a siege in 1523. It was rebuilt between 1571 and 1590 but was definitively destroyed by the troops of Montclar in 1680. The castle offers a magnificent view of the Palatinate to the north and the Steinbach valley to the south.
Entrée d'une salle troglodyte - PNRVN - A. Serylo Castle-church-abbeyWegelnburg fortified Chateau
Built at an altitude of 572 m, this ruin, first mentioned in 1247, is the highest in the Palatinate. After a robber knight attacking passers-by took shelter here, the castle was besieged in 1270 and illegitimately taken by the Fleckensteins. The castle changed hands frequently from 1330 onwards, before losing its military role and becoming a bailiff's residence in the 15th century. Plundered by Croatian soldiers in 1635, burned in 1644, it was finally destroyed by Montclar in 1680.
Forecast
Altimetric profile
Information desks
2 route de Bitche, 67510 Lembach
Access and parking
From Haguenau, take the D27 towards Woerth then towards Lembach. Continue on the D3 direction Niedersteinbach then turn right towards Fleckenstein Castle.
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