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Origin and history

The castle of Lutzelburg (Vorder-Lützelburg) is a medieval ruin located in Ottrott, in the Lower Rhine, on the plateau of Elsberg at 500 meters altitude. It is part of a set of three castles (Lutzelbourg, Vieux Lutzelbourg, Rathsamhausen) built between the 11th and 16th centuries, symbolizing the struggles of influence between local lords, bishops of Strasbourg and imperial power. Its defences, oriented towards the neighbouring castle of Rathsamhausen, reflect the tensions between the Hohenstaufen and Bishop Henri de Stahleck in the 13th century.

The original site, the Old Lutzelburg, was erected before 1076 by the Counts of Eguisheim, confessed to the monastery of Hohenbourg (Saint Odile). Destroyed in the 12th century by the Hohenstaufen, it was rebuilt and burned in 1198 by the Eguisheim-Dabos. In the 13th century, Othon II of Burgundy launched the construction of the castle of Rathsamhausen, while the present Lutzelbourg was built around 1230 under the impulse of the bishop of Strasbourg, marking a period of conflict between ecclesiastical and imperial powers.

In the 14th century the castles passed into the hands of the Counts of Andlau, then the Rathsamhausen-Ehenweiers, who rebuilt them at the beginning of the 15th century. Lutzelburg was destroyed between 1470 and 1570, probably during the Peasant War (1525). Rathsamhausen, renovated in Renaissance style between 1520 and 1530 by the Mullenheims, survived until the Thirty Years War. The ruins, privately owned since the 17th century, have been classified as a historical monument since 1985 and partially restored by volunteers between 1991 and 1992.

A notable architectural feature is the 13th century niche archery, equipped with a wall cupboard, oriented towards Rathsamhausen. This detail illustrates the mistrust between neighbouring lords. Recent excavations have also revealed the foundations of Old Lutzelburg between the two castles today, confirming the seniority and strategic complexity of the site.

Today, the castles of Ottrott offer an exceptional testimony of the political and military dynamics of medieval Alsace. Their dominant position on the valley and their turbulent history make it an emblematic place of regional heritage, although their access remains limited due to their status as private property.

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