idées.outings in Alsace102 places
Thann · 68
Built from 1224 to oversee a toll, this Alsatian castle was partially destroyed in 1673 by order of Louis XIV. Its ruins, nicknamed "the Witch's Eye," offer a panoramic view of the town and its hills.
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Niederbronn-les-Bains · 67
This medieval rocky promontory houses the ruins of a Gallo-Roman temple dedicated to Mercury, originally located where the Wasenbourg Castle now stands.
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Wangenbourg-Engenthal · 67
Perched at 480 m altitude in the village of Wangenbourg, this 13th-century Vosges sandstone castle offers stunning views over the Mossig valley. Free self-guided visits year-round; access to the keep from April to November.
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Niederbronn-les-Bains · 67
This Alsatian historic monument, listed in 1898, features a unique Gothic window with 9 lancets and a massive 4-meter-thick shield wall. It houses a 13th-century frieze and Gallo-Roman remains, including a temple dedicated to Mercury.
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Niedersteinbach · 67
Two ruined medieval castles, Grand-Wasigenstein and Petit-Wasigenstein, face each other on rocky spurs. Access is currently forbidden for safety reasons until August 2026.
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Wattwiller · 68
Two early 20th-century manor houses, rebuilt after 1918, stand on the site of the former medieval Weckenberg castle, which disappeared during the Thirty Years' War.
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Westhoffen · 67
Founded in 1332, Westhoffen features medieval ramparts 520 m long, six towers, and two gates. A red brick gloriette and the old Saint-Erhard Church, integrated into the walls, make it an iconic site. Visits by appointment or free access until the end of September.
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Thann · 68
Built in 1411, this tower of the Alsatian ramparts is named for its historic use: imprisoning witches before their trial. Its bulbous roof from 1628 and arrow slits make it a symbol of the South Gate of the Alsace Wine Route.
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Dambach · 67
This medieval fort, formerly owned by the counts of Hanau-Lichtenberg, is located in the heart of the Northern Vosges Regional Nature Park. It offers a resting spot for hikers and a popular viewpoint at the summit of Wittberg, 444 meters high.
Discover this placeDambach-la-Ville · 67
This granite fortress, one of the oldest in Alsace (11th century), features an 18 m keep, a hexagonal residence, and a tower with a chapel. Accessible on foot from Saint-Sébastien Chapel in 1h45; car access is banned until August 2026 due to fire risks.
Discover this placeAubure · 68
This 12th-century medieval castle, reinforced by the Wurtemberg family in the 14th century, features a square keep accessible through an ogival door. It offers exceptional views of the Vosges ridges.
Discover this placeOttrott · 67
This small 13th-century residential castle features a three-level main building with niche arrow slits and large bays with multiple windows. Its unfinished pentagonal keep adds a unique character to this historic site.
Discover this placeSommerau · 67
This Renaissance manor, built in 1562 on the foundations of a fortified house, features six semi-circular towers: three to the west shaped like pepper pots, two to the east converted into terraces overlooking the garden, and a stair turret serving the guardroom.
Discover this placeRiquewihr · 68
From 1324 to 1796, Riquewihr was under the authority of the Counts of Württemberg. Their coat of arms, three stag antlers, appears throughout the visit. In 1540, Duke George of Württemberg replaced the old castle with the current building, recognizable by its crenellated gable typical of 16th-cent.
Discover this placeObernai · 67
The Château de la Léonardsau, a classified Historic Monument carefully restored, tells its history and that of its owners through interactive displays. Visit its original rooms, library, and an immersive digital gallery.
Discover this placeLorentzen · 67
The Château de Lorentzen, a 14th-century Wasserburg, is a lowland castle surrounded by an old moat fed by the Eichel. Its 18th-century outbuildings house an exhibition, a tourist office, and accommodation and dining facilities for groups.
Discover this placeNiedernai · 67
The 1000-year-old Château de Niedernai hosts a restaurant serving wood-fired tarte flambée, local dishes, and wines, with views of the keep and estate, just minutes from Obernai.
Discover this placeSaverne · 67
Perched at 470 meters altitude, the Château du Haut-Barr, nicknamed "The Eye of Alsace," offers breathtaking views over the Alsace plain and Lorraine. Reachable in 15 minutes by car or a 1.5-hour hike from Saverne, this 12th-century medieval castle ruin, rebuilt in 1583,
Discover this placeRibeauvillé · 68
Château Saint-Ulrich, perched at 530 m, is the largest and best-preserved of Ribeauvillé's three castles. Once home to the Ribeaupierre family until the 15th century, it now offers remarkable ruins from the 12th to 15th centuries, reachable by a 2.5-hour hiking trail.
Discover this placeLembach · 67
ChâteauXperience, near the ruins of Fleckenstein, immerses visitors in the medieval history of the Northern Vosges and the Palatinate through an immersive journey combining images, sounds, and interactions.
Discover this placeDambach-la-Ville · 67
Dambach-la-Ville, a medieval wine town with colorful half-timbered houses, charms with its three fortified gates, Saint Sebastian chapel, and tasting cellars. Hikers and wine lovers will find their joy here.
Discover this placeLembach · 67
Perched at 338 meters in the Northern Vosges, the 12th-century Fleckenstein Fortress dominates a 100-meter rocky ridge. This fortress, impregnable for four centuries, was destroyed in 1689 by French troops.
Discover this placeLembach · 67
This 13th-century semi-troglodyte medieval castle, rebuilt in 1389, was besieged in 1348 and dismantled in 1677. Now closed for safety, it can be visited via a marked trail starting from Niedersteinbach.
Discover this placeRibeauvillé · 68
Perched on a rock opposite St Ulrich Castle, Girsberg Castle was built around 1250 by the Ribeaupierre family and enfeoffed to the Girsberg family in the 14th century. Its remains, including a classified pentagonal keep, can be visited on foot via a 2.5-hour marked trail.
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