Éguisheim Castles

The Éguisheim Castles, locally known as Châteaux d'Éguisheim, lie above the village of Husseren-les-Châteaux, in the Haut-Rhin department in France. This area is also known as the Southern Alsace or the Vosges.

The Éguisheim Castles is a castle group of 3 castle keeps built next to each other on a small summit. From north to south their names are Dagsbourg, Wahlenbourg and Weckmund.

The oldest keep is the middle one; Wahlenbourg (sometimes also called Mittelbourg). It was probably built by Hugues IV de Nordgau, Count of Éguisheim, around 1000 and first mentioned in 1006. It is supposedly the birthplace of Pope Leo IX, Hugues' son. Hugues was also Count of Dabo (Dagsburg) through his marriage with Heilwige de Dabo.

In 1026 the castle was destroyed during a siege by Ernest II, Duke of Swabia. It was rebuilt but destroyed again in 1144.

The Dagsbourg keep was built around 1147 by the Count of Ferrette who, in the 2nd part of the same century, also built the Weckmund keep. Although the keeps of Wahlenbourg and Dasbourg were habitable, which was most probably only done in times of trouble, the Weckmund keep was not. It was separated from the plateau on which the other 2 stood by a dry artificial moat and served as a lookout and rampart for the other 2.

In 1197, following revolts against the Holy Roman Emperor Henry VI, the castle complex was besieged by Philip of Swabia, brother of the emperor and King of Germany.

In 1225 the last descendant of the Counts of Dabo-d'Éguisheim died. The Count of Ferrette, who already owned the Dasbourg and Weckmund keeps, then claimed the entire castle complex. This was contested by the Bishop of Strasbourg and after some hostilities the Dasbourg and Wahlenbourg keeps went to the bishop while only the Weckmund keep was retained by the count.

During the Hundred Years' War the castle complex was plundered several times. First by English troops in 1370, who returned a second time in 1380. In 1444 it was also plundered, this time by the Armagnacs led by the Dauphin of France, the future Louis XI of France.

In 1466, during the War of the Six Deniers, the castle complex was attacked and burned down by the people of Mulhouse after some of their citizens had been imprisoned here. The castle never recovered. Only the Dagsbourg keep was used for 2 more centuries but by the 17th century the entire complex was abandoned and fell to ruin.

The 3 Éguisheim Castles are the southernmost castles of the so-called "Route of the 5 Castles", which also includes Hohlandsbourg Castle and Pflixbourg Castle. A nice route but it is closed to vehicles from mid-November to mid-March every year.

At present the 3 Éguisheim Castles are freely accessible and can be reached by a 10-minute walk from the nearest car-park. A very nice group of castle ruins.

Gallery

Weckmund

Wahlenbourg

Dasbourg

Details
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Éguisheim Castles

The Éguisheim Castles, locally known as Châteaux d'Éguisheim, lie above the village of Husseren-les-Châteaux, in the Haut-Rhin department in France. This area is also known as the Southern Alsace or the Vosges.

The Éguisheim Castles is a castle group of 3 castle keeps built next to each other on a small summit. From north to south their names are Dagsbourg, Wahlenbourg and Weckmund.

The oldest keep is the middle one; Wahlenbourg (sometimes also called Mittelbourg). It was probably built by Hugues IV de Nordgau, Count of Éguisheim, around 1000 and first mentioned in 1006. It is supposedly the birthplace of Pope Leo IX, Hugues' son. Hugues was also Count of Dabo (Dagsburg) through his marriage with Heilwige de Dabo.

In 1026 the castle was destroyed during a siege by Ernest II, Duke of Swabia. It was rebuilt but destroyed again in 1144.

The Dagsbourg keep was built around 1147 by the Count of Ferrette who, in the 2nd part of the same century, also built the Weckmund keep. Although the keeps of Wahlenbourg and Dasbourg were habitable, which was most probably only done in times of trouble, the Weckmund keep was not. It was separated from the plateau on which the other 2 stood by a dry artificial moat and served as a lookout and rampart for the other 2.

In 1197, following revolts against the Holy Roman Emperor Henry VI, the castle complex was besieged by Philip of Swabia, brother of the emperor and King of Germany.

In 1225 the last descendant of the Counts of Dabo-d'Éguisheim died. The Count of Ferrette, who already owned the Dasbourg and Weckmund keeps, then claimed the entire castle complex. This was contested by the Bishop of Strasbourg and after some hostilities the Dasbourg and Wahlenbourg keeps went to the bishop while only the Weckmund keep was retained by the count.

During the Hundred Years' War the castle complex was plundered several times. First by English troops in 1370, who returned a second time in 1380. In 1444 it was also plundered, this time by the Armagnacs led by the Dauphin of France, the future Louis XI of France.

In 1466, during the War of the Six Deniers, the castle complex was attacked and burned down by the people of Mulhouse after some of their citizens had been imprisoned here. The castle never recovered. Only the Dagsbourg keep was used for 2 more centuries but by the 17th century the entire complex was abandoned and fell to ruin.

The 3 Éguisheim Castles are the southernmost castles of the so-called "Route of the 5 Castles", which also includes Hohlandsbourg Castle and Pflixbourg Castle. A nice route but it is closed to vehicles from mid-November to mid-March every year.

At present the 3 Éguisheim Castles are freely accessible and can be reached by a 10-minute walk from the nearest car-park. A very nice group of castle ruins.

Gallery

Weckmund

Wahlenbourg

Dasbourg

Details
Hits: 2116