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Origin and history

Lobstein Castle is a mansion built in 1904 in Ville-sur-Illon (Vosges) for Jacques Lobstein, an Alsatian brewer exiled after the annexation of 1871. Designed by architect François Clasquin, this eclectic home combines influences late 19th and Art Nouveau, with glass windows signed Charles Champigneulle and floral decorations painted by G. Destin. It symbolizes the industrial success of its owner, founder of the Grande Brasserie & Malterie Vosgienne.

Jacques Lobstein, born in 1847 in Brumath (Alsace), fled German annexation and settled in the Vosges, where he bought a brewery in Ville-sur-Illon in 1877. His company, modernised in 1887, became a major player in beer and malt production until the mid-20th century. The castle, built nearby, reflects its prosperity and local anchor. When he died in 1931, his son René inherited the estate until 1964.

Filed with the additional inventory of historical monuments in 1993, the castle illustrates the Vosges brewing age. Its preserved Art Nouveau interiors testify to the know-how of local artisans such as Champigneulle (glass) and Destin (painting). The municipality still honours the Lobstein family, with a multi-purpose hall and a subdivision bearing their name, highlighting their industrial and political heritage (René Lobstein was mayor for 33 years).

Today, the castle and the former brewery, selected by the Stéphane Bern Mission in 2022, are the subject of restoration projects. The places recall the economic history of the Vosges, where pure water and innovative techniques made the fame of local breweries, such as the Lobstein, active until 1975 for soft drinks.

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