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Origin and history

The château de Châtenois, located in the Bas-Rhin, was mentioned in 1297 as a fortress belonging to the bishop of Strasbourg. This atypical site combines a castle, a church and a fortified cemetery – the largest in Alsace – surrounded by a ditch. Originally, it also housed an episcopal residence and a monetary workshop in the 14th century, reflecting its strategic and economic importance to the region.

In 1298, the bishop gave up part of the castle in fief to Heinrich Waffler von Eckerich. In the 15th century, the site was engaged several times, notably to the Count of Little Peter in 1410, before being acquired by the great chapter of the cathedral of Strasbourg in 1489. During the Civil War between Armagnacs and Bourguignons (1444-1445), King Louis XI established his headquarters there, but the site was looted and destroyed when he left. The conflicts continued: attacked by the Bourguignons in 1473, he resisted the troops of the Margrave of Baden in 1593, but fell against the Swedes (1632) and then the Imperials (1677).

The current architecture preserves remains of the walls of the enclosure, a ditch, and the tower of the Witches (15th century), the only remaining door. An axial tower on the church, possibly dating from 1432, was destroyed in 1929. The cemetery, moved in 1854, and the episcopal home (disappeared) recall the transformations of the site. Ranked a historic monument in 1932, it bears witness to the turbulent history of Alsace, between episcopal power, military conflicts and architectural adaptations.

The historical sources underline its defensive and symbolic role: the term "Sloss des Kirchoves" in the 15th century illustrates its dual use, both as a place of worship and as a fortress. Excavations and archives also reveal a monetary activity in the 14th century, linked to the episcopal presence. Today, the remains, a communal property, offer a rare glimpse of medieval fortified cemeteries, typical of certain regions of central Europe.

The evolutionary toponymy (Kirchof, Burg) reflects the mutations of the site, past from episcopal castle to defensive ensemble integrated into the village. Successive destructions (wars, demolitions) have erased part of its history, but the ramparts and the Witch Tower remain tangible markers of its past. Local legends, such as those evoked by Thomas Riboulet, add a mystical dimension to this Alsatian heritage.

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