Stay : The route of the castles and fortified cities of Alsace
Alsace is known for its numerous castles. You can start the circuit of the Route des châteaux et citées fortifiées d'Alsace in Wissembourg. It goes on into the Haut-Rhin but, depending on the time you have, you can take only parts of it. Once back in the villages, you can easily reach your starting point by train if needed
Summary of the stay
Best time to go
5 days
€€ - Charm and comfort
Detail of the stay : The route of the castles and fortified cities of Alsace - 5 days
Day 1: Discovery of Wissembourg
Steps: Climbach, Wissembourg
In Wissembourg, you will discover the first fortified city of the route with its ramparts. The city is also one of the stages of another route, the Romanesque route. After your visit to Wissembourg, set off for the first castle on this route. Going up in the forests of the Northern Vosges, take the direction of the castle of Fleckenstein, from the 12th century. On your way, you can stop for the night in Climbach.
Day 2: On the way to Fleckenstein Castle
Steps: Lembach
After your night, drive back to Fleckenstein castle. On your way, you can also follow the route of the 4 castles circuit. In addition to Fleckenstein, you can also discover the Loewenstein, the Hohenbourg and the Wegelnburg without much difficulty. These four ruined castles will offer you a magnificent panorama on the Vosges. The medieval playground of the Gimbelhof is also worth a visit. After your day of walking, stop in Lembach.
Day 3: The castles of Wasigenstein and Schoeneck
Steps: Niederbronn-Les-Bains
Your journey continues with the discovery of the castles of Wasigenstein and Schoeneck, both built in the 13th century. At 600 meters from Schoeneck, you can also see the ruins of the Wineck castle, on a ridge. Then head for Niederbronn-les-Bains for a well-deserved break.
Day 4: From Lichtenberg Castle to La Petite-Pierre
Steps: La Petite-Pierre
From Niederbronn, you reach the castle of Lichtenberg, dating from the 13th century and fortified in the 16th century, the first to use cannon. Your path then continues towards the fortified city of La Petite-Pierre and its 12th century castle which is today the headquarters of the Vosges du Nord Regional Nature Park. You will also see the museum of the Alsatian seal and the museum of Arts and Popular Traditions
Day 5: To the castle of Haut-Barr
The goal of this day is to reach Saverne and its castle of Haut-Barr. On the way from La Petite-Pierre, you can make a stop to see the houses of the Grauftal rocks, in Eschbourg, before reaching Saverne. Then drive to the Haut-Barr castle (1h30 from Saverne), also called "the eye of Alsace". From its promontory, you will have a superb view on the region. Return to Saverne.
If you wish to extend your journey, Wangen, Westhoffen, Wangenbourg, the Nideck, Obernai, Dambach-la-Ville, Bernstein, Châtenois, Ortenbourg, Kintzheim and the Haut-Koenigsbourg still await you. The latter is one of the most visited monuments in France! The tourist offices will inform you at best with the help of a brochure on the whole of this beautiful route of the castles of Alsace
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