Timeline

Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

Lichtenberg Castle, built in the 13th century on a hill of the Vosges du Nord, was originally built by the Lichtenberg family on lands probably usurped at the Neuwiller-les-Saverne Abbey. This imposing dungeon became in the 16th century a major stronghold under the Counts of Hanau-Lichtenberg, who integrated Renaissance elements (Italian oculus, canned pilasters) while strengthening its defences with the help of architects like Daniel Specklin of Strasbourg. The site, strategic, resisted several seats, including that of 1678 by the French troops of Marshal de Créquy, before being finally integrated into the royal defensive system.

In 1870, the castle was severely damaged by fire after a Württemberge siege during the Franco-Prussian war, reducing it to ruin. In the 20th century, its condition deteriorated until an ambitious restoration project, launched in 1993, transformed the remains into a major cultural pole. Italian architect Andrea Bruno, associated with Jean-Pierre Laubal, designed a modern ensemble (Arsenal, Pavillon des Dames, Caserne) while preserving the authenticity of the ruins. This project, carried out in four phases until 2015, included exhibition spaces, an open-air theatre and light installations, worth the site the remarkable contemporary architecture label.

The castle now houses a Centre d'interpretation de l'architecture et du patrimoine (CIAP), offering guided tours, medieval activities and seasonal cultural events (Pasques, Halloween). Managed by the Community of Communes of Hanau-la-Petite-Pierre, it illustrates an innovative approach to conservation, combining respect for historical remains and adapted reuse. The restoration includes cutting-edge techniques (consolidation of sandstone walls, traditional mortars) and an artistic lighting by Yan Kersalé, reproducing each evening the diurnal sunshine on the walls.

Ranked a historic monument in 1878, Lichtenberg Castle bears witness to seven centuries of military and architectural history, from feudal conflicts to modern wars. Its exceptional landscape environment, in the heart of the Vosges-du-Nord Regional Natural Park, makes it a flagship tourist site of the Great East, less than an hour from Strasbourg. The reflections carried out during its restoration (notably during the 1990 Heritage Interviews) influenced national doctrines on the preservation of ruins, advocating transparency, landscape integration and controlled reuse.

The origin of the castle dates back to Conrad de Lichtenberg, the presumed founder, while its artistic and defensive climax was reached under the Hanau-Lichtenberg. The damage suffered in 1870 marked a turning point, leading to its abandonment before its contemporary cultural renaissance. The site, owned by the municipality, is now an emblematic example of heritage value, combining historical memory and cultural dynamism.

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