Castles to visit Lorraine

The castle was built by Rodolphe d'Andlau around 1344. Many conflicts erupt between Strasbourg and the Andlau, but the castle escapes from destruction every time. Occupied by Swedes during the Thirty Years War, it was destroyed by French troops of Maréchal Marshal in 1678. The remains have a polygonal enclosure, two cylindrical dungeons, ogival doors and windows, a square dungeon and a body of géminées windows.

Illustrating the industrial richness of the Utzschneider family, this castle, which was completed in 1906, refers to several styles. If the inspiration of the Italian Renaissance dominates with the use of the windows windows and the staircase of the hall of honour; the association of brick, stone and slate is rather reminiscent of the French architecture of the early th century. But what makes this building exceptional is its front façade. In fact, the architects Berninger and Krafft from Strasbourg, from the school of architecture in Stuttgart, were happy to use assymétrie. The front and rear were probably reversed so that the receptions could be kept out of sight, at the back of the building, which reveals the most beautiful facade. Occupied by the Nazis during the Second World War, this building, which lasted for a long time, now houses the hotel of the Sarreguemines Generation community.

Built by Jean I de Dormans in the 14th century, the castle of Dormans has been the domain of illustrious people such as Cardinal Jean II, the Grand Condé or the Marshal de Broglie. Today owned by the city of Dormans, this magnificent building cannot be visited, but you can still admire its architecture by visiting the Memorial of the Battles of the Marne, walking in its beautiful wooded park of 25 hectares and crisscrossing the paths of its garden between its fishing ponds, its rivers, its cascades and its Japanese bridges.

Registered at the Historical Monuments Inventory, it was in this place that Napoleon signed the surrender of his army on 3 September 1870. Visible from outside only.

Be careful not to miss the entrance to the castle located in the middle of the main street of this small village. This castle is a gîte de France, with rooms and a table d'hôtes. But once the grid is passed, we find ourselves almost in another century. Indeed, the rooms of this cottage are decorated in the old style and each has a bathroom to make all the Cinderella pale. The park has a swimming pool and lawns where relaxing is a well-deserved reward. In the evening, we meet for an aperitif in the small common room, before eating and enjoying a variety of dishes prepared in the purest Lorraine tradition.