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Heritage classified

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Origin and history

The Castle of Wineck, located in the area of Wineckerthal on the town of Dambach (Bas-Rhin), was built around 1300 for the Windstein family. It probably served as an observation post to strengthen the defence system of the nearby Schoneeck Castle. Its strategic location on a rocky ridge allowed for effective monitoring of the surroundings, although its dimensions remain modest compared to other regional fortresses.

The monument was dismantled at the end of the seventeenth century by order of the King of France, like many Alsatian castles after the region's attachment to the kingdom. Today, only a portion of the stone walls remain, including the polygonal dungeon bossing chains, as well as a troglodytic gallery dug into the rock, giving access to a door halfway up the cliff. The lower yard, in the east, is partially bounded by a still visible enclosure.

The remains of the castle, including the underground elements, were listed as historical monuments on December 30, 1985. The site, owned by a private company, illustrates Alsatian medieval military architecture, marked by the integration of natural reliefs into defensive systems. Its access is via a road leading to the distance from Wineckerthal, from the village of Dambach.

Historical sources also mention the alternative names of Windeck or Schmalstein, reflecting local language variations. The castle is part of a network of medieval fortifications of the massif des Vosges du Nord, reflecting feudal rivalries and strategic stakes of the region at the dawn of the 14th century.

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