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Ruin to visit Engelbourg Castle

With its eye always wide open watching over the Thur valley, at an altitude of 443 m it surveys the town of Thann and its surroundings.

Markers

Built by the Counts of Ferrette in the 13th century, the castle ensured the control of a toll in the valley. It then passed to descendants of the Ferrettes and around 1470, it was the ruthless Pierre de Hagenbach, bailiff of Charles the Bold who owned it. Overhauled and modernised several times over the centuries, it resisted the Thirty Years’ War well, but not the King of France who ordered its dismantling at the end of the 17th century.

History

The witch’s eye, giving the ruin of Engelburg all its mystery, is none other than part of the old circular keep. This section righted itself under the explosive charge placed by the miners, who were brought in from Giromagny near Belfort, on the orders of the King of France to destroy and dismantle the fortress in 1673.

Key points

Its splendid panorama embracing the entire Thur valley, the Saint-Thiebaut Collegiate Church in Thann, the grand cru vineyard of Rangen and, on a clear day, Mulhouse and the Swiss Alps.

Practical informations

Address: place Joffre
68800 Thann
Access: From the Bungert car park in Thann, cross Thur bridge, take Rue du Rangen (red rectangle) for about 150 m, then take the first turn on the right (Rue du Kattenbachy). At the next junction, turn left, pass behind the forest house and take the path controlled by an access barrier, which leads to the ruins.
Walk time from car park: 20 min
Nearest tourism office: Office de Tourisme Thann-Cernay
7 rue de la 1ère Armée, 68 800 Thann
03 89 37 96 20 - 03 89 37 04 58 - thann@hautes-vosges-alsace.fr
www.hautes-vosges-alsace.fr - @Hautes.Vosges.Alsace
Conservation association: Les amis de l'Engelbourg
Facebook @Engelbourg
louise.chepca@hotmail.fr
GPS coordinates: Lat.: 47.81487647 - Long.: 7.10114837

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This summer farm built of local stone dates back to 1790. Situated on the mountainside, it overlooks the Thur valley, the Alsace plain and beyond, the Black Forest. Here, no typical mountain meal: Renée-Laure, Serge and their daughter, Lucile, will offer you varied specialities according to the periodic availability of their products: stew, beef bourguignon, baekaoffa, terrines, pâtés and cold meats entirely prepared with meat of their livestock. Ample panoramic terrace during the summer. Access on foot: Col du Hundsrück (30 minutes), Masevaux and Thann (2:30 hours) Access by car: Via the entrance of the Thann and Masevaux valleys. Take the Col du Hundsrück and then follow the forest road for 6,5 km. Leave your This summer farm built of local stone dates back to 1790. Situated on the mountainside, it overlooks the Thur valley, the Alsace plain and beyond, the Black Forest. Here, no typical mountain meal: Renée-Laure, Serge and their daughter, Lucile, will offer you varied specialities according to the periodic availability of their products: stew, beef bourguignon, baekaoffa, terrines, pâtés and cold meats entirely prepared with meat of their livestock. Capacity: 50 covers in 2 rooms. Ample panoramic terrace during the summer. Access on foot: Col du Hundsrück (30 minutes), Masevaux and Thann (2:30 hours) Access by car: Via the entrance of the Thann and Masevaux valleys. Take the Col du Hundsrück and then follow the forest road for 6,5 km. Leave your car in the parking, situated downhill from the farm (10 minutes on foot)

68620 Bitschwiller-lès-Thann
03 89 38 11 93

rl.wittmer@orange.fr

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