A look back in pictures: the installation of the lantern

As part of the work on the star-shaped bastion at Haut-Kœnigsbourg Castle, the Collectivité européenne d'Alsace (European Community of Alsace) has undertaken major restoration work. This will restore and enhance an important part of the castle's defensive heritage, which is classified as a historic monument. The star-shaped bastion is a striking feature of the fortress as visitors arrive.

The restoration of the bastion's roof involves the reconstruction, in accordance with the original design (restoration of the castle in the early 20th century), of four roof dormers and a lantern.

The latter disappeared on 26 December 1999 following Storm Lothar, also known as the storm of the century. Constraints at the time prevented its restoration.

The Collectivité européenne d'Alsace (European Community of Alsace) wanted to recreate the dormer windows and lantern in order to respect the project as imagined by Bodo Ebhardt during the restoration of the castle in the early 20th century.

The framework for the lantern roof was built in the Girold Constructions Bois workshop in Barr, as documented in period photographs. The framework structure was delivered to Haut-Kœnigsbourg Castle on Thursday 4 September and installed on the scaffolding so that work could continue on its completion.
The second stage consisted of waterproofing and roofing the lantern tower by the company Dupasquier & Bloino.

Finally, the lantern tower was topped with a lightning rod and a weather vane representing the Tierstein family. While the weather vane was rebuilt from scratch based on the fragments found and period documentation, the Tierstein coat of arms and its famous doe were preserved and modified to fit the new mast. It dates from the early 1900s and Bodo Ebhardt's restoration.
The new weather vane comprises a ball with a diameter of 23 cm at the base and the doe on a double ball bearing system above.