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Origin and history

The Petit-Arnsberg Castle, located in the municipality of Obersteinbach (Bas-Rhin), is a small town in Wissembourg Abbey, originally owned by the Wasigenstein family. First mentioned in 1316, he was associated with Frédéric de Wasigenstein, a well-known knight-brigand. In 1335 a peace was signed between the latter and the city of Strasbourg, although the castle was not restored to him. From 1360, he passed under the control of the Ochsensteins, then was divided in 1420 between Frédéric de Than and Louis de Lichtenberg.

In 1494, after the disappearance of the Ochsensteins, the Counts of Deux-Ponts-Bitche, heirs to the site, undertook its restoration. In the same year, a stone-cut door with a double frame was dated. The castle changed hands again in 1604, becoming the property of the Hanau-Lichtenberg until 1606. Its semi-troglodytic structure, with cavities suggesting wood extensions, reflects an ingenious adaptation to rocky relief.

The castle was destroyed in 1635 during the Thirty Years War. Ranked a historical monument in 1898, it now bears witness to Alsatian medieval defensive architecture. Its access is via a marked path from Obersteinbach, along the local sports field. The remains, such as the shield wall and troglodytic dwellings, illustrate its strategic role in the Northern Vosges.

Historical sources, including the work of Charles-Laurent Salch and Dominique Toursel-Harster, underline its importance in the network of Alsatian castles. The site is also referenced in specialized works on medieval fortifications, confirming its status as an emblematic heritage of the Greater East region.

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