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Origin and history

The gate of the Bruche is a vestige of the medieval fortifications of Dachstein, village of Bas-Rhin in Alsace. Built between the 14th and 15th centuries, it was part of a 1,550-metre enclosure surrounding the city and castle, 8 to 9 metres high. This gate, squared and covered with a rumped roof, features medieval architectural elements (broken arches, hump chains) and Renaissance additions, such as a window and a lowered upper part. A slab in sandstone bears wooded coats of arms and Latin inscriptions, including a date of renovation (1772).

The Dachstein enclosure was probably built in the 13th century, with a first mention of an oppidum and a door in 1303. Bishop John I of Dirpheim (1306–1328) strengthened the fortifications, later modernized under John IV of Manderscheid-Blanckenheim (1569–1592) to adapt to firearms. The date of 1574, engraved on the door, could correspond to these changes. In 1580, the bishop demolished a 13th century episcopal tower to build new defences, as the engineer Daniel Specklin reports in his Collectanae. A displaced slab, now embedded in the lock tower, bears the coat of arms of John IV and the date of 1580.

Fortifications suffered major damage during the 17th and 18th century conflicts. In 1675 the Turenne troops, commanded by General Vaubrun, bombed Dachstein, destroying part of the walls and the castle. In the 18th century, the doors were restored (dated 1747, 1772 and 1773 engraved), but the ditches were converted into gardens and the ramparts were partially damaged in 1819. The gate of the Bruche, spared in 1862, preserves traces of these transformations, with a medieval lower part and a Renaissance upper.

Today, the gate of the Bruche is the only notable vestige of the enclosure, with some wall segments kept in fence or integrated into buildings. The ditch is partially visible in the park of the new castle, while two round towers remain near the old castle (ownership of the Turckheim). Ranked a historic monument in 1929, the gate illustrates the evolution of defensive techniques, from medieval fortifications to artillery adaptations.

The damage of the Second World War (1940–45) also affected the monument, although the sources did not specify its extent. The gate, owned by the commune, remains a testimony of the turbulent history of Dachstein, marked by phases of destruction and reconstruction linked to regional conflicts and changing defensive needs.

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