Hohnack Castle

The ruins of a hilltop fortress above Labaroche, at 927 m.

Labaroche (Pays Welche)

Era

Medieval

Tour length

1 to 2 hours on site

Location

Labaroche (Pays Welche)

From

Free

The site

What to know

The Hohnack stands above Labaroche on the summit of the Petit-Hohnack, at 927 m, which makes it the second highest castle in Alsace after the Freundstein. Only ruins remain, but the keep, the towers and long stretches of wall still stand among the pastures. You walk up to reach it, and the view pays you back: on a clear day it stretches across the Munster and Kaysersberg valleys.

History

The story of the place

The site is recorded from the late 11th century, when it belonged to the counts of Eguisheim, and its keep dates from the 12th century. The castle later passed to the lords of Ribeaupierre, who held it from 1437, then it was rebuilt in the 15th and 16th centuries to withstand firearms. A French garrison held it from 1635 to 1654, before it was dismantled on the orders of Louis XIV. Sold during the Revolution, it served as a stone quarry until the late 19th century. The ruins have been listed as a historic monument since 1905. Since 1980, the Compagnons du Hohnack association has secured the remains and kept the site alive.

The must-sees

What you really shouldn't miss during your visit.

The keep

The large square 12th-century tower, the tallest remnant, standing at the centre of the walls.

Towers and walls

The entrance tower to the east, the Witches' Tower to the west, the Mill Tower to the north-west, the Chapel Tower to the south. The standing sections still trace the castle's plan.

A view over two valleys

On a clear day, a panorama over the Munster and Kaysersberg valleys and the High Vosges summits.

Cared for by volunteers

The Compagnons du Hohnack run maintenance work parties and a large medieval festival every two years.

Opening hours

Open: Visible at any hour, all year (no access inside the walls)

Tickets

Access to the site and its surroundings
Free

In pictures

The place from several angles, to prepare your visit.

Our tips before you go

1The castle is reached on foot only. The waymarked circuit from Labaroche covers 7 km in 2 hours 30, with 338 m of climb, and takes in the rocks of the Grand Hohnack on the way.
2Look at the castle from the outside: access inside the walls is forbidden after rockfalls. The ramparts and the keep stay in full view from the esplanade.
3These are genuine ruins, without railings everywhere. Keep children close.
4The climb is through forest, so wear proper shoes.