Big trip today! I woke up early in the morning prepared some walking clothes, put all the motorcycle equipment on and started my trip to north Alsace. In the morning the temperature was perfect for riding.
The road once I got inside France was amazing, nicely mantained full of turns and a crazy 90 km/h speed limit. Sincerely I don't think lots of those turns can be taken at that speed without killing yourself. I took it easy and drove at my pace. After an hour of riding I got to the the Fleckenstein parking lot. My motorbike is clearly not prepared for riding on dirt which made the last kilometer extremely fun.
Castle walk
Once in the parking lot I put most of the motorbike equipment in the topcase and prepared myself with comfortable clothes. However I still had some weight in the backpack. In the information point the sold me the tickets to get inside the Fleckenstein castle (7€).
The plan for the day was to visit the Fleckenstein castle however I found there was a hiking trip to visit 3 other castles and decided to give it a try. In a first moment I though to see the 2 closer ones but I really enjoyed the hiking and visited all of them. I didn't have much time because I had german classes at 5.45 pm and I also wanted to visit some WW2 bunkers so the hiking was alternated with small runs. Thays why today,day after the trip, my legs are pretty sore.
Fleckenstein
The first castle to visit was the Fleckenstein. This amazing castle dated back from the XII century. It was probably build by the Hohenstaufen but the Fleckenstein were the ones in charge of it. The castle was constantly improved during the years and it was finaly destroyed in 1680 under Louis XIV reign.
Map of the Fleckenstein castle:
- Gate Building
- Guard's residence
- Gutter for rain water
- Barbican with moat and drawbridge
- Today,castle museum
- Wellhouse and chamber
- Spiral staircase
- Lookout cloff with spiral stone stairs
- Main quartes
- Two stone steps on the inner side of the cliff
- Flanking tower
Loewenstein
Loewenstein was the second castle in the walking trip. This castle was totally destroyed and not much of it was left. The views from the Fleckenstein castle were amazing. I forgot to take a photo of the information panel and I'm not able to find information of this castle.
Map of the Loewenstein castle:
- Moat
- Corridor through the north cliff
- Wel or cistern
- Entrance to the north cliff
- Staircase
- Wooden/stone steps to the south cliff
- Cistern
- Bridge
Hohenbourg
The Hohenbourg castle was originaly built in the 13th century. In 1482 the castle became property of the Lords von Sickingen. The build new fortifications for the castle. Nevertheless, much of it was destroyed in 1523 ans it was only rebuilt several decades later.
The origna castel was build around the main rock, agains which the large protective wall was erected. The barbican erected by Franz von Sickingen dates back from 1504. In the most recent part of the castle one can see the remmants of a round tower that had a spiral staircase.
This castle was in much better condition than the Loewenstein and large pieces of structure remained there. The stairs were really step but the views from the top were worth going through them.
Map of the Hohenbourg castle:
- Rock chamber
- Stone stairs at the upper castle
- Round defensive tower
- Renaissance portal
- Two rock chambers with wells or cisterns
- Residences
- Defensive wall
- Spiral staircase tower
- Out buildings
Wegelnburg
It's the highest castle from all the previously visited. Wegelnburg was build as a fortification of the German Empire at the end of the 12th century. The castle is names after "B. de Woeglenburc", a vassal of the emperor, whose name appears for the first time in 1247.
The castle was conquered and destroyed by the citizens of Strasbourg and the emperor's custodian. The castle was restored by the German Empire in 1330 and 1417. In 1680 the french general Montclar burned down and razed Wegelnburg castle.
Map of the Hohenbourg castle:
- Gate house
- Former gate tower
- Well shaft
- Former defensive wall
- Stone steps to the upper castle
- Large rock chamber of the middle castle
- Open rock chamber of the upper castle
- Large rock chamber of the upper castle
