Greifenstein Castle

Perched on a rocky spur overlooking the Zorn valley, Greifenstein Castle, also known as Griffon, offers a panoramic view facing Haut-Barr and the two Geroldseck castles. Its history dates back at least to 1156, when a knight serving the Bishop of Strasbourg is mentioned there, suggesting the early existence of the fortress. The Greifenstein family, probably linked to the Ochsenstein, shared ownership from 1217. In the 14th century, the Bishop of Strasbourg became the overlord of the site, then divided among several ministeriales, leading to conflicts resolved by castle peace treaties in 1401, 1440, and 1474. After the Greifenstein line ended in 1450, the castle passed to the Hohenbourg family, then to the Kirchheim in 1482, while Count Palatine Louis of Zweibrücken-Veldenz became lord of part of the site. Occupied by enemies of Count Palatine Frederick in 1470, it was later returned to the bishop. 15th-century archives mention a Saint Vit chapel within the fortress. In 1516, the Bishop of Strasbourg became owner of both parts of the castle, already in ruins after the Thirty Years' War. The site notably preserves a large 12th-century Romanesque keep, recognizable by its red sandstone blocks and characteristic bossing. To the east, the remains of the second keep and the lordly residence testify to its glorious past, though heavily degraded. In 1670, stones from the castle were reused to build the palace of Cardinal-Bishop François Egon de Furstenberg in Saverne. Five years later, Turenne ordered its destruction. Classified as a historic monument in 1898, Greifenstein remains today a fascinating testimony to medieval architecture and power struggles in Alsace.