Château de Hunebourg, Medieval castle near Neuwiller-lès-Saverne, France
Château de Hunebourg sits atop a sandstone outcrop at 425 meters elevation and overlooks the Zinsel du Nord valley with multiple buildings arranged across the landscape. The structures are positioned at different levels, creating a layered arrangement that follows the terrain.
The Hunebourg noble family emerged around the middle of the 12th century, with the site first documented in writing in 1288 under Lichtenberg family ownership. This establishes a long and documented past for the fortress.
The grounds served as a gathering spot for Alsatian folk celebrations between the 1930s and 1940s, where locals performed traditional songs and dances. This heritage remains part of how the place is remembered by people in the region.
The castle is located along segment 8 of the Chemin des châteaux forts d'Alsace hiking trail that connects La Petite Pierre to Ernolsheim-lès-Saverne. Good footwear is advisable since the terrain is uneven and requires careful footing throughout the site.
A neo-Romanesque tower was built in the 1930s by Friedrich Spieser at the opposite end of the grounds from where the original medieval keep once stood. This later addition creates an interesting contrast between medieval and modern construction on the same site.
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