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Origin and history

Wittschloessel Castle, also known as Wittberg, Wittburg or Windeck, was built in the 13th century on Wittberg in Dambach, Lower Rhine. It is more like a guard tower or a fort, designed to complete the defence of Schoneeck Castle by overlooking the Obersteinbach Valley. Its role was probably strategic, although its modest dimensions suggest a secondary function in the local defensive system.

The first written mention of the castle dates back to 1657, in a document describing the boundaries of a seigneury. At that time he belonged to Lichtenberg's family. After the death of the last lord of Hanau-Lichtenberg in 1480, the property passed into the hands of the Eckbrecht family of Dürckheim, who remained the owner until the French Revolution. The latter had received the Unterdorf in lease, strengthening their control over the region.

Destroyed in 1677, probably by French troops, the castle of Wittschloessel left few traces. Today, only remains of sandstone walls on a rocky ridge at 440 meters above sea level. The ruins consist of two rocks between which one distinguishes a driven chamber, as well as beam holes and remains of collapsed walls. Its history, closely linked to that of Schœneck Castle, remains poorly known due to the lack of sources.

Current excavations and observations reveal a modest structure, probably designed to house a small garrison or serve as a surveillance post. The remains, though fragmentary, bear witness to a medieval occupation and integration into the Alsatian defensive network. The ruin is now an accessible site, offering a panorama of the surrounding valley.

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