As we drove to Colmar on Sunday, we saw a castle on top of the pointiest hill around. On Monday, we visited it – the Chateau de Haut-Koenigsbourg. (Yet another fine mix of French and German names here in Alsace…) This castle has had a hard life. First mentioned in 1147, it was destroyed in 1462. (Though that may not have been such a bad thing, since it was occupied by brigand knights.) Rebuilt in 1479, it was destroyed again by the Swedes in 1633, during the Thirty-Years War. In 1899, the town gave it to Kaiser Wilhelm II.
Why would the kaiser want a total ruin of a castle? Apparently to make a statement about German might – it was completely restored by 1908.
All of the artwork was interesting, and some certainly had a teutonic flare, especially in the Kaiser’s Hall.
I was fascinated by the ceramic stoves. Each has dozens of detailed handmade tiles. The one with the attached seat looks particularly cozy.
The furniture and the cannon were also impressively finished. Who knows how they got these enormous wardrobes up all those circular stairs – perhaps in pieces?
Beyond Our French Adventure 