The 4 chateaux circuit
Medium
Club VosgienDescription
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
5 points of interest
Castle-church-abbeyLutzelhardt fortified Chateau
This castle, mentioned for the first time in 1250, was built to protect the seigneury of Bitche and was destroyed in the 16th century. Built on a sandstone rock 20 m high and 60 m long, one can still see the small square keep with rusticated stones, the remains of the dwelling, as well as a filtration cistern, traces of construction and the lower courtyard.- Castle-church-abbey
Loewenstein 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. - Castle-church-abbey
Hohenbourg 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. - Castle-church-abbey
Wegelnburg 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. - Castle-church-abbey
Fleckenstein fortified Chateau
Built on a sandstone promontory 20 m high, 125 m long and 8 to 15 m wide at an altitude of 370 m, the castle has existed since the 12th century to control the roads to Lorraine and Haguenau. After the sieges of 1276 and 1315, it was restored in the 15th century, redesigned and modernized in the 16th century, but destroyed in 1680. The rock, cut vertically, was dug out to build chambers. On the upper platform there are remains of the 15th century palace and a chapel.
Forecast
Altimetric profile
Information desks
2 route de Bitche, 67510 Lembach
Access and parking
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