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Heritage classified

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Origin and history

Meyenheim is a medieval defensive structure located on Rue de l'Église, Rue du Vignoble and Rue Basse, in the Alsatian municipality of Meyenheim (High Rhine). This monument takes the form of a hemispherical earth elevation of 6 meters high and 35 meters in diameter, characteristic of the fortifications of the Middle Ages. It served as a base for a wooden tower, typical of the early castles of that time, and today constitutes the only visible vestige of the ancient fortress.

The construction of this moth probably dates back to the 12th century, although it could have been established on an earlier Gallo-Roman site. The first written mention of this site dates from 1281, making it a rare testimony of feudal occupations in Alsace. The motte was classified as historic monuments by two successive decrees, in 1985 and in 1986, thereby recognizing its heritage and archaeological value.

Architecturally, this motte illustrates the techniques of fortification in common earth between the 10th and 12th centuries. These structures, often surmounted by palisades or wooden towers, served as checkpoints and refuges for local populations. Their strategic location, as here in Meyenheim, reflects the challenges of power and protection in a region marked by feudal conflicts and seigneurial rivalries.

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