Château de Lutzelbourg, Medieval fortress in Lutzelbourg, France
Château de Lutzelbourg is a medieval fortress built on a rocky peak above the Zorn Valley in eastern France. The ruins feature thick stone walls and a square tower that preserve the defensive structure of castles from that period.
Pierre de Lutzelbourg, son of Count Frederick of Montbéliard, founded the fortress in the 11th century on a strategic hilltop. Around 1100 it was exchanged with Marmoutier Abbey, bringing it under church control.
The castle entrance displays a carved stone face, reflecting medieval protective beliefs common in regional architecture. Such decorations reveal how residents once used symbolic elements to ward off harm.
The ruins are open year-round and free to visit, accessible via a marked trail from Lutzelbourg village that climbs uphill for about 30 minutes. Wear sturdy shoes and be prepared for a steep walk to reach the hilltop.
In 1840 notary Adolf Germain saved the castle from demolition when owners planned to sell its stones for railway construction. This unexpected intervention by a local official prevented an important landmark from disappearing.
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