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Origin and history

The Château de Rougemont, erected at the end of the 12th century in the south of the Vosges, was a defensive fortress controlling a strategic Roman route from Langres to Alsace. Located at 736 m above sea level, it symbolized the power of the Counts of Ferrette, its first owners, and monitored the gate of Burgundy, a key passage between Franche-Comté and Alsace. Its architecture included a circular dungeon replacing a first quadrangular dungeon, as well as a seigneurial home.

Upon the extinction of the Ferrette lineage in 1324, the castle passed to the Habsburgs by inheritance. It was burned down and destroyed around 1375, probably during the English invasion, as evidenced by the numerous tiles (more than 800) found on the site. The archaeological excavations initiated in 1977 revealed a rich military, civil and religious furniture, now preserved at the Belfort Museum. The site, registered with the Historic Monuments in 1996, is freely accessible.

The restoration of the castle allowed to highlight its remains, including the circular dungeon and the ditches delimiting the enclosure. The equipment discovered (calls, weapons) attests to its active military role until the 14th century. Although the ruins are communal property, their access remains difficult due to their steep location. The castle illustrates the strategic importance of Vosges fortresses in the Middle Ages, at the crossroads of Burgundy and Alsatian influences.

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