Timeline

Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

Guirbaden Castle, built in the 11th century on a site previously occupied by the Romans, was founded by Hugues III of Eguisheim to protect the Abbey of Altorf. As early as 1027, he passed under the domination of the Duke of Swabian Ernest II, and was enlarged by Emperor Frederick II between 1219 and 1226. This castle, the largest in Alsace, suffered five centuries of conflict: burned in 1633, repaired in 1647 by Frédéric de Rathsamhausen, then razed by the French in 1657. It eventually belonged to the Rohan family before being sold in 1790 and classified as a historical monument in 1898.

In the 19th century, the castle changed hands several times. In 1968, an Alsatian entrepreneur undertook controversial work: dismantling the door [19], consolidating the west facade with concrete covered with stone walls, before abandoning the construction site in 1971. In the 1990s, a new owner secured access to the dungeon, which had become dangerous. Since 2015, an association has been working for its restoration, while access to the dungeon remains prohibited due to the risk of collapse.

The ruins, covered with vegetation, reveal a complex plan separated by a transverse ditch. In the east, the dungeon [23] and the Romanesque palace (lords seigneurial) with its curved windows and Romanesque-Byzantine capitals dominate the courtyard [16]. In the west, the esplanade [5] houses the Valentine's Chapel (12th century, restored in the 19th century) and the Hunger Tower [6], an imposing square tower. The walls in pink sandstone with bosses, adapted to firearms (cannons), bear witness to military developments. A local legend links the castle to the Templars and to a buried treasure, symbolized by the tragic fate of two greedy twins.

Ranked in 1898, the castle illustrates Alsatian medieval defensive architecture, marked by successive construction phases (XIIth–XIVth centuries) and various influences, from Emperor Frederick II to the bishops of Strasbourg. Its current state, between ruins and partial restorations, makes it an iconic site for historical and hiking enthusiasts, accessible from Mollkirch or Grendelbruch by footpaths.

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