Timeline

Key figures

Origin and history

The château of Blochmont, first mentioned in 1271, was then ceded in Oblate fief by Ulrich de Ferrette to the bishop of Basel. This legal system allows Ulrich to retain the use of the castle while transferring the property to the bishopric. As early as 1282 the castle passed into the hands of the family of Eptingen, who held it for centuries.

Although the archives do not explicitly confirm this, the castle probably suffered damage during the Basel earthquake in 1356, a major event in the region. In the 15th century, its owner, Hermann d'Eptingen, came into conflict with the city of Basel. This conflict led to the siege and destruction of the castle in 1449. Despite this, the Eptingen rebuilt it and kept it until 1529.

That year, the castle was sold to Habsburg. Still occupied in 1548, it was abandoned shortly afterwards and reported in ruins as early as 1551. Its history reflects the political and military tensions of medieval Alsace, as well as the seismic hazards and changes of power that have marked the region.

Historical sources, such as the works of A. Quiquerez (1961) or the work of Mengus and Rudrauf (2013), document its evolution. Today, it is one of the iconic castles of the Upper Rhine, although reduced to the state of ruins.

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