This Sunday, May 1, is the unmissable day for fans of fortified castles with the Tous aux Châteaux initiative. Alsace is the one with the most in France. Simply. In the Middle Ages there were around 500 fortified castles between the limits of the Palatinate and the borders of Sundgau, including the Territory of Belfort. Today, 455 are listed, ie 293 in the plains and 152 in the mountains. Not all of them can be visited, some are just a small pile of stones. Hop, here is an exceptional one: you pass the col des pandours from the Bruche valley, or you climb from the east from Wasselonne and Romanswiller.
In Wangenbourg Engenthal, visit the castle of Wangenbourg, which falls into ruins approximately every 2 centuries. It is mentioned as early as 1295, erected by the lords of Wangen, you see the link with Wangenbourg.
It was renovated in 1523 by the Bishop of Strasbourg. Okay, no jackhammer. Around 1680, the castle was occupied by a French garrison of Louis XIV. Leaving it, the soldiers blew up the north tower, the so-called Chapel tower, and the adjoining curtain wall to “put it out of defence”. This was the lot of many castles in Alsace. There are guided tours, and you will see very interesting 16th century ovens, just above a large fireplace.
These ovens are the equivalent of the current sauna. And you can still observe them in these interesting ruins, which give you a magnificent view of the surrounding forests. Wangenbourg Engelthal and its castle, the favorite of the day. Moreover, a small legend, it is said that this lord, sauna lover, promised mountains and wonders to a very young and pretty girl blessed by the fairies. Once his business was done, he left her. Desperate, the young girl rushed into the forest and reached the Nideck waterfall to wash away this affront. Reached the top, exhausted, she slipped into the void. The fairy godmother caught up with her and changed her into a nymph. Since then, it is said that a white shadow dances on the foam of the waterfall, alerting walkers of an approaching thunderstorm.
This Sunday, there will be wooden games for children, re-enactments, medieval musical entertainment and horse shows all day long, and at 4 p.m., the opening of the Portes du temps season by the Franco-German troupe from the Theater Baden Alsace with the Strasbourg orchestra No Limit Orchestra. All the information on the website alsaceterredechateaux.com