Timeline

Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

Orschwihr Castle, located in the Upper Rhine, has its origins in the 2nd quarter of the 13th century with the construction of a house around 1230-1250. This first building, surrounded by fortifications, evolved over the centuries: in the sixteenth century (circa 1580), the mansion was transformed into a castle with cannon towers and a wall of enclosure, reflecting the defensive needs of the era. The Andlau, then the families of Rixheim and Erdmannsdorf, were the successive lords before his passage to the Truchsess of Rheinfelden.

In 1722, a fire ravaged the castle, requiring partial reconstruction. In the 18th century, it belonged to Griset, then to François Willemann, advisor to the bishops of Strasbourg, before being sold as a national good during the Revolution. It was transformed into a farm, and in 1934 it suffered a new fire, leaving only remains: two towers, a stone bridge, and the cellars housing the traces of the primitive dungeon. Today, the estate is dedicated to viticulture, operated by Hubert Hartmann.

The village of Orschwihr, historically turned towards the vine, drew its prosperity from the wines like the Pfingstberg or the Rangen, cultivated since the Middle Ages. The well-exposed hills (Bollenberg, Lippelsberg) and the state court of Rouffach made it a popular terroir. In the 19th century, the cadastre of 1828 included 396 wine-growers, illustrating the local wine anchor. The wines of the castle, awarded internationally (Vinalies, Guide Hachette), are now referenced in star restaurants in Europe, the United States and Japan.

The current remains, classified as Historic Monument since 1988, include the facades of the house, a tower, the access bridge and the enclosure walls. The task marks and medieval cellars bear witness to the successive construction phases, mixing feudal heritage and adaptation to agricultural and wine-growing uses.

The history of the castle is documented by local sources, including the works of Th. Walther (1906) or Mr. Grodwohl (1973-1974), highlighting its central role in the Alsatian wine economy. Architects François-Antoine Müller and Nicolas Six left their mark there, especially during the post-fire reconstructions.

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