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Origin and history

Bergholtz, located at 32 rue de l'Eglise in the Upper Rhine, is a medieval vestige of the 11th and 12th centuries. This historic monument, registered since 1985, was originally a fortified castle playing a sentinel role on the boundaries of the Murbach Abbey. Its strategic position allowed to monitor the surroundings and protect the interests of the abbey, a powerful religious institution in Alsace at that time.

Over the centuries, the castle changed hands and functions. In 1456 the abbey of Murbach hired the site in Conrad de Hungerstein, a local lord. Later, in 1690, it was sold to Paul Simon, former baili of Bergholtz. Historical descriptions show that in 1550 the castle still had a house, a tower, a gate and a forecourt, attesting to its architectural and defensive importance. However, in the 18th century, the accounts of Schoepflin and Billing already mention its degradation, with only a square tower in stone of surviving size.

The definitive destruction of the castle took place during the French Revolution, leaving only the motte, a circular terre 30 to 40 meters in diameter and 4 meters high. This vestige, now planted with vines, preserves stone foundations and a landing at its base, an indication of an old enclosure that has disappeared. At the end of World War II, excavations uncovered walls descending to the surrounding ground. Only a Bergholtz coat of arms, now preserved at the Musée Saint-Jean de Mulhouse, still bears witness to its seigneurial past.

Architecturally, the fortress consisted of a square dungeon and a circular enclosure, typical of the castral constructions of the 12th century. His plan reflected the defence techniques of the time, combining elevation and ditches to deter assaults. The motte, a central element, served as the base for the wooden or stone dungeon, offering stunning views of the surrounding area. Despite its partial destruction, this site remains a valuable testimony of the feudal organization in Alsace and the links between religious and military power in the Middle Ages.

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