Château du Haut-Ribeaupierre, Medieval castle ruins in Ribeauvillé, France
The Château du Haut-Ribeaupierre is a castle ruin on a hilltop near Ribeauvillé, part of three fortifications scattered across the local landscape. The remains show the basic structure of a medieval stronghold with walls and foundations dating from different periods.
The castle was built around 1250 on the foundations of an ancient Roman site and served the Ribeaupierre family as a strategic fortress. It remained important until the middle of the 17th century, when it lost its military purpose.
The fortress displays architectural features spanning from Roman times through the Renaissance, visible in its remaining stone walls. You can see how different building styles were layered into the structure over centuries.
Sturdy footwear is essential for exploring the ruins, as the path is steep and parts of the structure remain fragile after centuries of weathering. The ground can be slippery, so it is wise to move slowly and carefully.
In the 1380s, the fortress held English knight John Harleston as a prisoner for ransom, even though he had imperial protection. His case reveals how important the castle was for controlling trade routes of that era.
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