The exterior: the south facade and the castle's honor gate

If you take a closer look at the south façade, you'll understand the entire history of Haut Koenigsbourg at a glance.

This is the façade of the southern dwelling, where the most comfortable flats are located.

Although the castle is inhabited, it is also a fortress.

Situated on a rocky spur that is difficult to reach, it is protected by a wall that is difficult to breach.

Symbolising imperial power from the very beginning, this entrance is made sumptuous by the superimposition of the coats of arms of Charles V and Wilhelm II, who wants to be part of history and legitimise himself in a certain continuity of the Empire.
Another facility that testifies to the quality of the habitat : the presence of nearby latrines.
Here we can see one of the comfort features of the oriel window, which provides plenty of light to the living room of the south-facing dwelling thanks to the three window openings in the room where it is located.
The base of the walls still dates back to the first 12th-century castle, attested here in 1147 and built by the first Germanic imperial family to own the site: the Hohenstaufen.
Higher up, you can see features dating back to the 15^th century, the second major architectural period of the castle, which was then owned by the Habsburgs.
The upper part, above the corbels, is clearly identifiable as dating from the restoration carried out at the very beginning of the 20^th century by the architect Bodo Ebhardt, under the auspices of Wilhelm II Hohenzollern, the last German emperor.
You can also admire the tall silhouette of the keep, which stands at the very heart of the dwellings.