Timeline

Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

Wattwiller's enclosure, classified as a historical monument since 1928, dates back to the 13th century, when the town became a city under the authority of the abbot of Murbach. Originally, the fortifications formed a rectangular line surrounded by ditches, with two access gates (Obertor and Untertor) and round towers at angles. The latter were modified in the 16th century to accommodate mouths, marking their adaptation to the artillery of the time.

In the 20th century, one of the round towers, partially destroyed, was rebuilt around 1925. Today, this truncated tower in moellon and coated, located at 11 rue des Bains, is the only remaining element in elevation. It illustrates the evolution of defensive techniques between the Middle Ages and the Renaissance, while at the same time testifying to the strategic past of Wattwiller, then fortified city under seigneurial and religious influence.

The monument, a private property, has been protected as historical monuments since a decree of 20 June 1928, specifically covering the "Old Tower". Its architecture reflects the military transformations of the period, with defensive arrangements characteristic of the sixteenth century, like the mouths of fire practiced at the base of the towers.

External links