Timeline

Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

The fortified enclosure of Ammerschwihr originated in 1367, when Duke Wenceslas of Luxembourg (brother of Emperor Charles IV) authorized the fortification of the town. The first ramparts and ditches, mentioned in 1388, included four doors: the high gate (still standing to the west), the doors of Kaysersberg and Colmar (walled to the north and south), and the Bass door to the east. From this first enclosure there are today the south-east corner tower (armed) and the Bourgeois tower, marked by medieval archeries.

In the 16th century, the fortifications were reinforced by a partial doubling of the ramparts on the south, east and west side, with the addition of a second bass gate protected by the Fripons Tower (or Thiefs). The Bourgeois tower is modernized with guns, reflecting the adaptation to firearms. These works demonstrate a desire to secure the village in the face of the Renaissance conflicts, as evidenced by the mouths of fire pierced in the southeast corner tower.

The decline of the enclosure began in the 19th century: in 1803 the north and south gates were reopened, and in 1806 a part of the ramparts was dismantled. The ditches were filled between 1866 and 1867, leaving only fragmentary remains. Among them are the high stoneware door (broken arch and wood panel), the Fripon tower (circular, with outside staircase), and the crenellated southeast tower. These elements, classified as Historical Monuments in 1993, illustrate the architectural and military evolution of Ammerschwihr, between the Middle Ages and the modern era.

The enclosure plays a central role in the life of the town, symbolizing its autonomy and commercial prosperity. Located on the Place du Vieux-Marché, it defines a structured urban area, where artisans, merchants and peasants cross. The towers, such as that of the Bourgeois (enhanced as a tourist site), also recall the system of collective defence and regional tensions, particularly under the influence of the Dukes of Luxembourg and the Holy Empire.

Today, the remains (private and communal property) offer a rare testimony of the Alsatian fortifications, between medieval heritage and Renaissance adaptations. Their preservation allows us to study construction techniques, such as the use of sandstone, rubble, or hump chains, as well as the integration of military innovations (cannons).

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