Château du Hugstein, Buhl, France

The Château du Hugstein was built in 1227 by Hugo (Hugues) de Rothenbourg, abbot prince of Murbach from 1216 to 1236. It was constructed between the communes of Buhl and Guebwiller, to defend both the Murbach Abbey and the entrance to the Florival valley.

In 1313, the abbot Conrad Wiedergrun de Stauffenberg consecrated the castle chapel to the Holy Cross and Saint Benoît. Abbot Barthélémy d'Andlau modernised the castle during the 15th century, notably adding a gate tower decorated with a frieze and equipped with a drawbridge (visible in the photo).

Two new towers were also added to the defensive system of the castle even though its principal role had become residential. Georges de Masevaux continued with the restoration but died in 1542. The castle then became the subject of a quarrel about succession between Henri de Jestetten and his cousin Rodolphe Stoer de Stoerenbourg, abbot of Honcourt and Capitulary of Murbach. The latter finally won, but the fortress suffered from the affair. In 1598, the castle was struck by lightning. At the start of the 17th century, it was used as a prison, particularly for Lutherans and witches, of whom it is said that some were burned in front of the castle. Abandoned, it provided shelter for the poor before finally being used as a stone quarry. The stone which built the castle was extracted from the moat which surrounded it.

The cylindrical keep, 10 m in diameter, is comparatively rare in Alsace. The higher part of the keep was removed when the site served as a quarry.

The main corps de logis had two or, indeed, three floors giving the building a certain magnificence. The Gothic keystone to the chapel vault, decorated with an Easter lamb, is displayed at the Florival Museum (Musée Théodore Deck) in Guebwiller

The defences consisted of ramparts rounded at the corners, designed to create an illusion to attackers that the castle was equipped with cylindrical towers.

References:

Wikipedia

User Reviews

SublimeDivin (16 months ago)
Very nice visit to the ruins of the Château du Hugstein with also magnificent views of Buhl. The site is very well maintained, there is also a table and benches at the foot of the castle if you wish to take a meal break. The access and the visit of the castle are free.

mazuta 4000 (18 months ago)
I love antiquities. You'll have to try hard to get up there ?

Laugal Laugal (19 months ago)
Straddling the banns of Guebwiller and Buhl, the fortified castle of Hugstein was built by the Prince-Abbots of Murbach as a princely residence and to protect their monastic principality. Although it did not have to deal with attacks, it was later used as a prison for witches, including a midwife... as well as for the Reformed, some of whom ended up at the stake in the castle. Abandoned, the site served as a refuge for the destitute and then as a stone quarry. In 1858, an earthquake struck the Hugstein causing the fall of a wall which remained fixed in an oblique position against the wall opposite, still visible today, it reminds us of this natural event not so rare in Alsace. Under the impetus of a dynamic association for the preservation of heritage, the castle has benefited from a major saving renovation campaign.

Alexandre Topin (2 years ago)
Pretty little castle in ruins, steeped in history. It is accessible by paths from the woods. It offers a beautiful panorama over the valley. Access is free and security is present to avoid accidents during discovery. A plaque is present on the site, which tells us more about this castle. I encourage you to visit it.

Mai Ốc (6 years ago)
No one was visiting here when i went there. Just a small ruins but has a nice spot to just sit and chill.

Featured Historic Landmarks, Sites & Buildings

Photo from Flickr, copyright diannlroy.com

Historic Site of the week

Jan Hus Memorial

The Jan Hus Memorial stands at one end of Old Town Square. The huge monument depicts victorious Hussite warriors and Protestants who were forced into exile 200 years after Hus, and a young mother who symbolises national rebirth. The monument was so large that the sculptor designed and built his own villa and studio where the work could be carried out. It was unveiled in 1915 to commemorate the 500th anniversary of Jan Hus' martyrdom. The memorial was designed by Ladislav Šaloun and paid for solely by public donations.

Born in 1369, Hus became an influential religious thinker, philosopher, and reformer in Prague. He was a key predecessor to the Protestant movement of the sixteenth century. In his works he criticized religious moral decay of the Catholic Church. Accordingly, the Czech patriot Hus believed that mass should be given in the vernacular, or local language, rather than in Latin. He was inspired by the teachings of John Wycliffe.

Château du Hugstein

Address

Details

More Information

Rating

Interesting Sites Nearby

User Reviews

Featured Historic Landmarks, Sites & Buildings

Finest Norman castles in Italy

Exploring the History of Northern Poland

Discovering Slovenia's Historic Wonders

Historic Site of the week

Jan Hus Memorial