Nouveau-Windstein Castle

Built in the 13th and 14th centuries before being modernized, this castle exemplifies the defensive principles of the era, comparable to those of the Wasenbourg Castle in Niederbronn-les-Bains. Its dwelling rests on an imposing blind shield wall, covering a wide flat attack front and protecting the lower courtyard. In response to the evolution of firearms, additional features were added: a pentagonal bastion to the east and a massive round tower to the south. The barbican, equipped with horizontally firing gunports, reflects this strategic adaptation.

The history of the two castles, Nouveau- and Vieux-Windstein, remains complex to reconstruct. Nouveau-Windstein, abandoned after the Thirty Years' War at the end of the 17th century, experienced a revival thanks to a dynamic association. Today, this ruin is being restored and enhanced, highlighting its exceptional architectural features and remarkable state of preservation.