Ruins of Hohenstein Castle

Perched at 640 meters above sea level on a rocky spur overlooking the entrance to the Bruche Valley, the Hohenstein Castle stands in the commune of Oberhaslach, about forty kilometers from Strasbourg. Built in the 13th century, this medieval castle is notable for its strategic location on a spur site, typical of defensive constructions of the time. Today, only imposing remains survive: to the north, the stump of the keep, once guarding the enfilade dwelling, and between it and the ditch separating the site from the Grand Ringelsberg, the bailey. A fortified enclosure later reinforced by a semi-circular bastion completes the ensemble, reflecting early 13th-century construction techniques adapted to the steep terrain. Built by the Hohenstein family, the castle also became shared property with the Bishop of Strasbourg at the end of the 13th century. A dark chapter in its history occurred in 1337, when Rodolphe de Hohenstein imprisoned Bishop Berthold de Bucheck. Freed in 1338, the bishop seized the castle, which never recovered from its ruins. Freely accessible via a hiking trail, the site invites visitors to discover this historical heritage, notably offered by the Molsheim-Mutzig Regional Tourist Office through the hike titled "the ruins of Hohenstein."