Chronological milestones

pad-actu-billet.jpg - Haut-Koenigsbourg castle, Alsace, France
  • 1147 - First records of Castrum Estuphin castle, built by the Hohenstaufens.
  • 1192 - The castle becomes the Koenigsbourg "Royal castle".
  • 1462 - Destruction of the Habsburgs' castle.
  • 1479 - The castle is entrusted to the Tiersteins, who rebuild and extend it. A modern defence system is installed. This is the golden age of the Hohkoenigsbourg.
  • 1633 - Siege, pillage and fire at the castle during the Thirty Years War. The ruins are abandoned for two hundred years, then classified as a historical monument in 1862.
  • 1865 - The castle is acquired by the town of Sélestat.
  • 1899 - Sélestat presents the castle's ruins to Kaiser Wilhelm II, following the annexation of Alsace to Germany in 1871.
  • 1900-1908 - Wilhelm II appoints the architect Bodo Ebhardt to oversee the complete restoration of the castle. The work is carried out over 8 years.
  • 1919 - Haut-Koenigsbourg becomes the property of the French government and is awarded the status of National Palace.
  • 1993 - The castle is entirely classified as a historical monument and fully restored.
  • 2007 - Ownership of the Haut-Koenigsbourg castle is transferred to the Bas-Rhin Departmental Council (European Collectivity of Alsace since 1 January 2021) within the context of the 13 August 2004 law relative to local government management ("libertés et responsabilités locales").

  • 2008 - Haut-Koenigsbourg Castle celebrates the centenary of its restoration.
  • 2009 - Opening of an audiovisual interpretation area dedicated to people with reduced mobility and multiple disabilities. An investment of nearly 450,000 euros enabled the installation and fitting out of this space.
  • 2011 - €7.7 million is committed to bringing the castle's technical installations up to standard. Start of a new phase of works, scheduled over 3 years, included in the master plan for the works.
  • 2012 - Haut-Koenigsbourg castle receives the Diploma of Merit and European Prestige of the Committee of Europe. This prize rewards restoration, upgrading to standards and accessibility to specific audiences and handicapped people. This last action is doubly rewarded by the 2012 Women in Tourism Trophy.
  • 2014 - After 2 years of work, the keep is once again accessible to the public.
  • 2016 - Bruno Caro is made head of the monument.
pad-actu-billet.jpg - Haut-Koenigsbourg castle, Alsace, France