Ruin to visit Nouveau-Windstein Castle

Adjoining the ruins of Vieux-Windstein, at the top of a sandstone plateau at an altitude of 367 m, the castle stands proudly on the hills above the small market town of Windstein, in the Northern Vosges.

Markers

The castle’s history is linked to that of Vieux-Windstein, destroyed by the city of Strasbourg in 1332. Guillaume de Windstein built a new castle which passed to different owners over the centuries: the Lichtenbergs, the Linange-Leiningens and the Eckbrechts of Dürckhein. Refurbished in the 15th century, it was adapted to the evolving firearms but suffered the damage of the Thirty Years’ War before being destroyed in 1676.

History

While crossing the Northern Vosges, no doubt you have already come across one of these strange, motionless wasp-like creatures, hanging on their webs. It is the Argiope bruennichi, a wasp spider that deploys original and spectacular hunting tactics. In fact, it can ‘mummify’ its prey in a cocoon in the space of a few seconds. The latter, which remains alive, is generally not consumed immediately but ‘stored’ in a sort of pantry.

Key points

The entrance and the barbican with arrowslits set into it, the large residential tower defended by a shield wall on the attack side, the 16th century pentagonal bastion, the ruin of the residential chamber pierced by numerous windows with window seats and its upper part now accessible thanks to the remarkable work of the castle watchmen.

Practical informations

Address

Rue du Mattenthal
67110 Windstein

Access
From Niederbronn-les-Bains, follow the D53 towards Obersteinbach. Then turn right towards the village of Windstein. The municipal parking above the town hall is the best place to park. From the car park, take the tarmacked road to the guest house, then go up leftwards between the latter and the small garage. Follow the red rectangle of the GR53 or the signs for the Fortified Castles’ Trail.
Walk time from car park
15 min
Nearest tourism office
Office de Tourisme de Niederbronn-les-Bains
6 place de l'hôtel de ville, 67110 Niederbronn les Bains
03 88 80 89 70 - office@niederbronn.com
www.niederbronn.com - Facebook @niederbronn
Conservation association
Les veilleurs du Nouveau-Windstein
veilleurs-nouveau-windstein@orange.fr
http://www.veilleurs-nouveau-windstein.fr - Facebook @VNouveauWindstein
GPS coordinates
Lat.: 48.99724757 - Long.: 7.67628908
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Hiking tour to the Windstein castles

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Leave on a tour of two castles located on the foothill of the village Windstein and pass near the first former forge of De Dietrich in Jaegerthal. Departure : Niederbronn-les-Bains : town center, rue de la vallée – villa Riesack, Hochscheidt, lake of Jaegerthal, ferme Welschhof, ruins of Windstein, windmill of Windstein, Ochsenkopf, villa Riesack, Niederbronn-les-Bains. More information: Nice view of Niederbronn-les-Bains, of the villa Le Riesack, ruins of the former forge of De Dietrich at Jaegerthal. Ruins of the old and new Windstein of 13th and 14th centuries.

6 Place de l'Hôtel de Ville
67110 Niederbronn les Bains
03 88 80 89 70

tourisme@alsace-verte.com

www.alsace-verte.com

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