Château de l'Ortenbourg

Located at an altitude of 443 metres at the end of the ridge, Château de l'Ortenbourg was built between 1260 and 1265 by Rudolf Habsburg to the site of older castle. It is one of the most beautiful ruins in the Rhine Valley.

In 1291, on the death of Rudolf, Otto IV opposed the election of Albert of Habsburg and supported Adolphe de Nassau. In 1293, Otton joined the siege and had the Ramstein built to take Ortenbourg; and after three weeks of sieges, the Austrians surrendered and the Val de Villé was invaded by Otto.

From the 16th century the castle started to dilapidate as a result of a lack of maintenance, although it is inhabited until the beginning of the 17th century. In 1633 the Swedes set fire to the castle.

Today Ortenbourg is a masterpiece of military architecture with its high shirt surrounding a 32-meter dungeon, is visible from a distance and fits remarkably in the landscape. This dungeon offered 6 levels of defensive fire and its pentagonal design allowed for better deflection of the attackers' projectiles.

Address
Scherwiller, France

Established
1260-1265