Timeline

Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

The Wasigenstein Castle, mentioned as early as 1270 by local lords, was formally attested only in 1299 as a dwelling tower on the Petit-Wasigenstein rock. After the extinction of the eponymous family in 1359, the site was fragmented between about fifteen owners around 1450, causing repeated conflicts. Assieged eight times in the 15th century, it was abandoned before 1500 due to these incessant struggles.

The site consists of two distinct castles: the Grand-Wasigenstein, semi-troglodyte, with a dungeon, a house and a shield wall, and the Petit-Wasigenstein, a three-storey tower with spiral staircase. A rock fault separates them, surrounded by a dry ditch where a tank was dug. The access was done by stairs cut from the rock or a lift for heavy loads.

Wasigenstein is associated with the Germanic legend of Waltharied (X century), where the "Walther's fault" would be the place of an epic battle between Prince Walther and eleven knights. Nearby, the rocks of the Klingelfels (suspected watch post) and the Zigeunerfels (old castle occupied by bandits in the seventeenth century) complete this defensive landscape.

Ranked a historic monument in 1898, the castle is now a state property. Its remains illustrate Alsatian medieval castral architecture, marked by feudal conflicts and temporary occupation. Recent excavations and studies (notably by André Lerch or Nicolas Mengus) document his construction techniques and his role in the region.

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