Château de Rathsamhausen, Medieval castle in Ottrott, France.
Château de Rathsamhausen is a castle ruin perched on a plateau roughly 500 meters above the Alsace plain, featuring a rectangular keep and a cylindrical tower. The remains reveal a compact fortified structure with visible foundation lines and sections of the original walls.
The castle began as a wooden structure in the 11th century and was rebuilt in stone following a fire around 1100. Major reconstruction work took place in the 13th century to strengthen the fortification's defenses.
The ruins display defensive features typical of medieval Alsatian fortifications with layouts designed for protection. Visitors can observe how the structure reflects the military concerns of the period when castles served as strongholds in the region.
The ruins are reached from the Klingenthal parking area by following marked Club Vosgien trails toward the Ottrott castles site. The climb involves moderate elevation gain and requires sturdy footwear and enough time to account for both the ascent and descent.
Excavations at the castle site uncovered a 14th-century bronze fire stick, offering rare material evidence of weaponry used during the medieval period. This artifact represents one of the few surviving objects that testify to the actual arms employed to defend the fortification.
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