Castle of Haut-Königsbourg
Local name: Château du Haut-Kœnigsbourg
Haut Koenigsbourg Castle is a strategically located medieval fortress in Alsace. It owes its present appearance to the reconstruction carried out at the beginning of the 20th century on the orders of Emperor William II. Inside, there are exhibitions of medieval weapons and Renaissance furniture.
The castle was built in the 12th century as one of many fortresses on the turbulent border between France and German kingdoms. During its history it was repeatedly destroyed during wars. The Thirty Years War caused him the biggest losses. From the mid-seventeenth century, it remained in ruins. In 1899 Wilhelm II ordered the reconstruction of the castle. It was made while maintaining a medieval appearance. Gothic and Renaissance frescoes found in the past in some rooms were also reconstructed.
The castle standing on a hill is visible from afar thanks to the massive, square tower covered with a hip roof. A rectangular residential building is adjacent to it. Currently, it houses museum exhibitions. The most important of them is dedicated to medieval weapons. You can see crossbows, war bows, swords and other white weapons, as well as complete armor for knights and their horses.