Frankenbourg Castle

From the castle, observing the surrounding landscape, the visitor will easily understand the choice of this conical summit (703 m.), slightly detached from the sandstone massif of the Altenberg, for the construction of the Frankenbourg.
At the confluence of the two valleys (Val d'Argent and Val de Villé), shortly before their common opening onto the plain of central Alsace, this natural viewpoint allowed control of the ancient Salt Route, the silver ore route, and the vineyard route.
There is also a view of Sélestat, the Ortenberg, the Ungersberg, the Champ du Feu massif... The construction of the castle by the Counts of Frankenbourg probably dates back to the beginning of the 12th century.
In 1196, the Frankenbourg-Werd family acquired the position of Landgrave of Lower Alsace, thus becoming the Emperor's representative for this region, essentially what we would call today the Bas-Rhin. Moreover, the coat of arms of the Bas-Rhin department is still that of the lords of Frankenbourg-Werd.
The family declined rapidly, and the fief of Frankenbourg passed to the Bishopric of Strasbourg, which, from 1393 onward, leased it to various families: the Lützelsheim, the Uttenheim zum Ramstein, the Bock, and the Hohenstein. From 1489 to 1789, the Grand Chapter administered the castle alone, along with the Count Ban (villages on the right bank of the Giessen River). Still inhabited during the Thirty Years' War (1618-1648), the castle was gradually abandoned from the 17th century onward. Its last recorded mention dates back to 1634.
(Source: SHVV).

By municipal decree dated April 30, 2025, and following a technical opinion from the DRAC and at the request of the state services, access to the path leading to the entrance of the Frankenbourg castle and to the dungeon platform is prohibited to all public until further notice.