The castle's history
9 centuries of history
Three, two, one... Open your eyes!
In front of you, the majestic silhouette of Haut-Koenigsbourg.
Erected in the 12th century, Haut-Koenigsbourg castle has witnessed centuries of conflicts and rivalries between lords, kings and emperors.
A succession of illustrious owners have left their mark on the castle's history, and numerous events have modified its appearance...
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1100
1147
First written mention of the castle called Castrum Estuphin, built by the Hohenstaufens.
14001157
The castle takes the name of Koenigsbourg, which means ‘royal castle’.
1462
Destruction of the Habsburg castle at the hands of robber knights.
16001479
The castle is entrusted to the Tiersteins, who rebuild it, extend it and install a modern defence system. This is Hohkoenigsburg's heyday.
1800
1633
Siege, pillage and fire of the castle during the Thirty Years' War. Two centuries of abandonment followed, before the ruins were listed as a historic monument in 1862.
1865
Acquisition of the fortified castle by the city of Sélestat.
19001899
Sélestat offers the ruins of the castle to Kaiser Wilhelm II, following the annexation of Alsace to Germany in 1871.
1900-1908
Wilhelm II commissions the architect Bodo Ebhardt to carry out a complete restoration of the castle. The works take 8 years to complete.
1919
Haut-Koenigsbourg becomes the property of the French state and gains the status of national Palace.
20001993
The castle is listed as a historic monument in its entirety, and fully rehabilitated.
2007
Under the terms of the 13 August 2004 law on local freedoms and responsibilities, the Haut-Koenigsbourg castle has been transferred to the Département du Bas-Rhin (the Collectivité européenne d'Alsace since 1 January 2021), which becomes its owner.
2008
Haut-Koenigsbourg castle celebrates the centenary of its restoration.
2011
7.7 million euros are committed to bringing the castle's technical facilities up to standard. Start of a new phase of works, scheduled over 3 years, as part of the master plan for the works.
2012
Haut-Koenigsbourg castle receives the Diplôme de Mérite et de
Prestige from the Committee of Europe. This prize rewards the restoration, the upgrading and the accessibility to specific publics
and disabled visitors. This last action is doubly rewarded by the Trophée Femmes du Tourisme 2012.
2014
After 2 years of work, the keep is once again open to the public.
2019
The castle is awarded the Marque Qualité Tourisme label for the first time, a guarantee of its commitment to serving visitors.
2022
After spending almost 30 years in the castle's storerooms, 6 gleaming sets of armour from the late 15th, 16th and 17th centuries have been returned to the Kaiser hall. They have been restored by Bluenn Boulangé.
2023
The castle welcomed an exceptional number of visitors: 596,708. All of them charmed by its 900 years of history.
2025
Renovation of the star-shaped Bastion to accommodate commercial areas: restaurant, bookshop, seminar space.
The castle,
source of inspiration
The castle is a source of inspiration for many artists.
With its very particular atmosphere and landscape, Haut-Koenigsbourg castle never ceases to fascinate creators and inspire masterpieces! It has inspired many artists, especially in the prestigious universe of cinema.
La Grande Illusion
Film by Jean Renoir (1937)
In the late 1930s, Jean Renoir chose the fortress as the setting for ‘La Grande Illusion’, now recognised worldwide as a cinematic masterpiece. Witness to a past of conflict between France and Germany, Haut-Koenigsbourg was an ideal backdrop for this film, which defended a humanist and pacifist point of view on the eve of the Second World War.
Howl's Moving Castle
Animated film by Hayao Miyazaki (2004)
The fortress also inspired the famous Japanese director, renowned for his animated masterpieces. During a scouting trip to Alsace, he visited Haut-Koenigsbourg castle, whose silent atmosphere inspired him to create his "Howl's Moving Castle".
The Lord of the Rings
Art direction by John Howe (fin 1990)
John Howe, the famous Heroic Fantasy illustrator, is charmed by the mysterious atmosphere of the castle on his first visit in the 1980s. He uses it as inspiration to draw the "citadel of Minas Tirith" in the new editions of Tolkien's 'Lord of the Rings'. Hired by Peter Jackson as art director on the ‘Lord of the Rings’ trilogy in the late 1990s, he again incorporates elements of Haut-Kœnigsbourg into his sets.
Les aventures d'Arsène Lupin
Film by Jacques Becker (1956)
During the summer of 1956, Jacques Becker filmed ‘Les aventures d'Arsène Lupin’ at the castle, with Robert Lamoureux in the title role.
La forteresse
TV film by Jean-Paul Carrère (1959)
Jean-Paul Carrère filmed ‘La forteresse’ at the castle with Alain Saury and Lucien Barjon.
La pitoyable chronique du Royaume d'Isbart
Film by Jacques Albert (1963)
It is in the early 1960s that the filmmaker Jacques Albert shot this film on a screenplay by André Weckmann.
Le Golem
TV film by Jean Kerchbron (1967)
The fantasy TV film ‘Le Golem’ was shot here in the mid-1960s.
Hugues le Loup
Film by Michel Subiela (1975)
Between horror and fantasy, Michel Subiela adapts ‘Hugues le Loup’ from the eponymous novel by Erckmann-Chatrian.
Mazarin
Series directed by Pierre Cardinal (1978)
In 1978, the TV series ‘Mazarin’, starring Arielle Dombasle and Nathalie Roussel, was partly filmed in the fortress.
Agent trouble
Film by Jean-Pierre Mocky (1987)
In 1987, some scenes from Jean-Pierre Mocky's film ‘Agent trouble’, starring Catherine Deneuve and Richard Bohringer, were shot at the castle.
Miss Acacia
Music video by Dionysos (2006)
The castle is clearly recognisable in the music video by French group Dionysos, ‘Miss Acacia’ (2006).
César Wagner
TV series created by Sébastien Paris and Eric Vérat (2025)
Broadcasted on France 2, this police series features the castle. With Gil Alma, Olivia Côte and Amaury de Crayencour.
