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Origin and history

The Grand-Geroldseck Castle, built at the beginning of the 12th century by the Sires of Geroldseck, was used to protect the territories of Marmoutier Abbey of which they were confessed. This castle, among the oldest in the Vosges, combined residential and defensive functions. Its square dungeon with walls of 3 to 4 meters thick, dated around 1200, and its seigneurial house partially vaulted testify to its strategic importance. The changes in the 13th, 14th and 15th centuries reflect its adaptation to the military and seigneurial needs of the time.

The site was marked by tragic events, such as the death in 1289 of Waleran de Geroldseck, husband of Alice de Louppy-le-Château, killed in the Black Forest. After the extinction of the Geroldseck family in 1390, the castle changed hands several times, becoming even a den of knights-brigands. These illegal activities caused its partial destruction in 1471, during a siege led by the Duke of Lorraine and the Palatine voter. By the end of the 15th century, the castle was in ruins, before being bought by the Abbey of Marmoutier in 1705.

The current remains include the stone dungeon, the cellars of the seigneurial house, and a barbacan building the entrance. The dungeon, struck by lightning in 1718, has a large breach. Restoration work between 1863 and 1874 preserved some of the structures. The castle has been listed as a historic monument since December 1898, and its design by Désiré Monnier in 1842 attests to its historic interest since the 19th century.

Access to the site is from Saverne via the D171, then a marked path from the parking lot of the Haut-Barr. The castle illustrates the evolution of the Alsatian castral architecture, combining seigneurial habitat and defence, while reflecting the conflicts and political dynamics of the 12th to 15th century region. Its present state offers a valuable witness to medieval construction techniques and transformations over the centuries.

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