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Origin and history

The St.Rémy Castle of Altenstadt, located in Wissembourg in the Lower Rhine, is a historical monument whose remains are now buried under vegetation. Originally, it was a priory, perhaps already fortified, transformed into a castle (Wasserburg) in the 14th century by the abbots of Wissembourg. This site was one of four castles defending the Wissembourg Abbey at cardinal points, playing a strategic role in the region.

During the Spanish Succession War (1701-1714), the Marshal of Villars built a fortification line called Lauter lines to secure the north of Alsace. The castle, then dismantled in 1703 by French troops, was replaced by the Fort de Saint-Rémi, considered the best post on this defensive line. The fort consisted of a 16-metre tower, a ditch, a tenaille and a ravelin, and was designed to control the flood of the valley via a lock system.

Archaeological excavations carried out in 1980 mainly revealed remains dating back to the 15th century. The site, listed as historical monuments by decree of 3 November 1989, is now inaccessible and completely covered by the forest. Nearby, remains a sandstone bridge with an arch, vestige of the old wooden lock linked to the defensive system.

The Château Saint-Rémy illustrates the evolution of military strategies in Alsace, moving from a monastic and medieval defensive role to integration into a network of modern fortifications in the 18th century. Its history reflects the geopolitical tensions between France and the Palatinate, marked by conflicts such as the Spanish Succession War.

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