Château du Hagelschloss, ruined castle in Ottrott in the Bas-Rhin département of France
The Château du Hagelschloss is a castle ruin from the late 12th century perched on a rocky outcrop in the hills of Alsace. The most striking remaining feature is a large stone arch spanning across the cliff face, standing over 20 feet (6 meters) high, while scattered walls and the foundations of a tower form the rest of the visible structure.
The fortress was built in the late 12th century to protect the region during a time of conflict and was part of a network of strongholds controlled by the Hohenstaufen family. After centuries under various owners, including the Erb family in the 1400s, Strasbourg's army destroyed it in 1406 during an eight-day siege, and it was never rebuilt.
The name Hagelschloss comes from the valley below and suggests a place exposed to wind and weather. Today, the ruins are seen by people in the region as a symbol of their long past, connecting them to their ancestors who lived during medieval times.
Visitors should wear comfortable shoes and prepare for a steep forest hike lasting about 45 to 50 minutes starting from the village of Saegmuehlmaettel. The ruins lack safety barriers, so visitors must exercise caution and avoid approaching unstable structures or cliff edges.
The most striking remaining feature is a large stone arch known locally as the Devil's Arch, which spans between two sides of the rocky cliff. This arch is one of the most impressive examples of medieval construction at the site and reveals the sophisticated building techniques of that era.
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