By Vicky · Published Jul. 12th, 2023 · Updated Apr. 3rd, 2024
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Château du Haut-Koenigsbourg is an impressive castle at the top of a hill with great views, and one of the main attractions in Alsace.
Getting to Château du Haut-Koenigsbourg
Château du Haut-Koenigsbourg is at the top of a hill roughly 757 metres high in Orschwiller, France. It’s about 55 km / 50 minutes south of Strasbourg and 26 km / 30 minutes north of Colmar. There’s free parking along the road around the castle – it can get busy and you might have to walk up to a kilometre from your car to the castle entrance.
Public transport to Château du Haut-Koenigsbourg
You can also reach Château du Haut-Koenigsbourg by shuttle bus from Sélestat, on the train line 12 km away. The shuttle runs on weekends and holidays March-December and every day June-Sep and a few other weeks (see details here). Timings are designed to coincide with the arrival of trains to Sélestat station. Shuttle bus tickets cost €2.50 each way and with them you get a €2/1 discount on entry tickets to the castle.
Tips for visiting Château du Haut-Koenigsbourg
- Open every day: Apr, May & Sep 09:15-18:00, Jun-Aug 09:15-18:45, Mar & Oct 09:30-17:45, Nov-Feb 09:30-12:00 & 13:15-16:45. On Mondays the castle opens from 10:30am.
- The castle entrance fee is €9/5/free for adults/6-17yrs/under 6. It’s an extra €4.50/2 for an audioguide.
- Free in-person guided tours in English are available at 3pm June-August.
- There is some walking to do in the castle so make sure to wear comfortable shoes.
- Refreshments are provided by a kiosk (open March-November) opposite the castle entrance, or by a restaurant (open every day) to the right of the entrance.
- If you want go to on a guided tour of Alsace that includes Château du Haut-Koenigsbourg, try the Full-Day Highlights of Alsace Tour from Strasbourg*.
- For hotels nearby, there’s a lovely spacious apartment in Sélestat also called Le Château du Haut-Koenigsbourg*. It’s a great option for larger families or groups since there are 3 bedrooms, along with a fully equipped kitchen.
- For a much closer accommodation option, stay at Les Chambres du Haut-Koenigsbourg*. It’s so close you can walk to the castle along a lovely path through the woods (1km with 100 m uphill) and avoid the hassle of parking.
Visiting the Château du Haut-Koenigsbourg
Once you enter the castle itself, you follow a signed route that leads you through all the rooms. It’s quite large so the castle tour can take several hours. Bear in mind that there are 300 steps during the tour! There’s quite a bit of written information in all the rooms, so you can walk around and explore by yourself, or there are several tour options.
If you want, you can get an audio tour (€4.5/2 extra per adult/child). The audio tour lasts roughly 1hr30mins and is available in many languages. There’s a special version designed for children – this is available only in English, French, and German.
In-person guided tours in English are available only June-August and take place every day at 3pm. These tours last roughly an hour and they are free after buying an entrance ticket.
History of Château du Haut-Koenigsbourg
Château du Haut-Koenigsbourg was built in the 12th century by the Hohenstaufen family, a dynasty that contributed many emperors and kings to the ruling European families.
The castle was destroyed in 1462, after which it was given to the Tierstein family by the Habsburgs. The Tiersteins then rebuilt the castle and increased the defenses so that it could resist artillery fire. However, despite the upgrades, the castle was destroyed again in the Thirty Years War by Swedish troops, who burnt it to the ground in 1633. For the next 200 years the castle remained in ruins.
The nearby town of Sélestat then bought the ruins. A few years later, Alsace was annexed to Germany in 1871 and the town gave the ruins to Kaiser Wilhelm II. The Kaiser saw the castle as a symbol of German might, so spent a great amount to have it fully restored. He never intended to live there but to open it to visiting tourists to underline this location as the western extent of his empire.
After the First World War and the Treaty of Versailles in 1919, the castle and the rest of Alsace were given to the French. Further restoration took place in the 20th century to recreate the Château du Haut-Koenigsbourg we know today.
Refreshments and Restaurants at the Castle
There are two places for refreshments at the castle – the more formal restaurant and the more casual pavilion. You can access both from outside the castle walls, so you don’t have to get a ticket to visit.
Le Restaurant du 757 au Haut-Koenigsbourg: This restaurant, located to the right of the castle entrance, has a cool atmosphere as it’s located in very old rooms. You can get drinks, snacks, or a full meal, with regional and medieval dishes served. It’s very popular around lunchtime so either get there early or late, or you’ll have to queue. Open year-round.
Le Pavillon du 757 au Haut-Koenigsbourg: This kiosk is opposite the entrance to the castle at the edge of the road, with great views over the Alsace plain. It serves simple food and drink, with only outdoor seating on a lovely panoramic terrace. Open March – November.
Guidebooks & Maps for Exploring Alsace
I hope you enjoy visiting Château du Haut-Koenigsbourg. For more ideas, check out other great things to do in Alsace and France!
FAQS
Tickets to Château du Haut-Koenigsbourg cost €9/5/free for adults/6-17yrs/under 6.
The opening hours of Château du Haut-Koenigsbourg vary throughout the year. The castle is open every day: Apr, May & Sep 09:15-18:00, Jun-Aug 09:15-18:45, Mar & Oct 09:30-17:45, Nov-Feb 09:30-12:00 & 13:15-16:45. On Mondays the castle opens from 10:30am.
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