Ruins of the Nideck Castles

The Nideck Castle is a medieval ruin located in the commune of Oberhaslach, about forty kilometers from Strasbourg. Surrounded by forests and perched on a ridge 534 meters above sea level overlooking the Hasel valley, the site actually consists of two distinct castles, resulting from a family division documented by a charter from 1336. The upper castle, built later (early 14th century), features a defensive ditch and shield wall, while the lower castle, dating from the mid-13th century, houses a square keep protecting a small dwelling. The first written mention of the castle dates back to April 17, 1264, when it was associated with Bourckard, burgrave of Nideck. Over the centuries, the site changed hands several times, passing to the Bishop of Strasbourg, the Landgraves of Lower Alsace, the bourgeois of Strasbourg, and then the Müllenheim family until 1509. Destroyed by fire in 1636, only ruins remain today. The legend of the Nideck giants, popularized by the Brothers Grimm in 1816, notably inspired the poet Adelbert von Chamisso. The site also offers an exceptional panorama of the Bruche valley, Guirbaden Castle, and the Champ du Feu, accessible only by a hiking trail.