Possible site occupancy Haut Moyen Âge (≈ 738)
Unconfirmed hypothesis of continuous use.
6 décembre 1898
Historical monument classification
Historical monument classification 6 décembre 1898 (≈ 1898)
Order to protect the remains.
Aujourd'hui
Aujourd'hui
Aujourd'hui Aujourd'hui (≈ 2025)
Position de référence.
Heritage classified
Gallo-Roman fortifications on the Ringelsberg (rests): classification by decree of 6 December 1898
Key figures
Information non disponible - No historical character cited
The sources don't mention any actors.
Origin and history
Gallo-Roman fortifications on the Ringelsberg are an archaeological site located in Oberhaslach, in the department of Bas-Rhin, in the Greater East. This monument consists of an oval-shaped dry stone enclosure, facing north-south, surrounded by a ditch. It is about 100 meters long and 30 meters wide, with a height ranging from 2 to 3 meters and a thickness from 1.50 to 2.20 meters. The site is located at an altitude of 644 metres between the castles of Ringelstein and Hohenstein.
The discovery of a bronze heel axe on the site suggests an occupation going back to protohistory. Although mainly associated with the Gallo-Roman period, the site may also have been occupied during the early Middle Ages. Some historians hypothesize that it might correspond to the primitive location of Ringelstein Castle, although this theory is not confirmed.
The site was classified as historic monuments by order of 6 December 1898, thus recognizing its heritage importance. The remains, although partially preserved, offer a rare testimony of the techniques of construction and defensive organization of the Gallo-Roman era in this region. The location of the site, between two medieval castles, highlights its potential strategic role throughout the centuries.
The accuracy of the current location is estimated to be poor (level 5 out of 10), reflecting the difficulties in accurately determining the original boundaries of the enclosure. Despite this, the site remains a point of interest for the study of human occupation in the northern Vosges from protohistory to the Middle Ages.
No information is available on the accessibility of the site to the public or on any services offered (guided tours, rentals, etc.). The available sources (Wikipedia, Monumentum) also do not mention recent archaeological excavations or tourist development projects.
The general historical context of the region during the Gallo-Roman period was marked by the gradual romanization of local populations, with the construction of defensive infrastructures and communication channels. Premises such as the Ringelsberg could serve as temporary refuges for populations in the event of conflict, or as places of control in the surrounding territories.
