Location: Kintzheim, Bas- Rhin department Map
Constructed: 12th century
Château de Kintzheim is a medieval castle ruin in the commune of Kintzheim, located in the Bas-Rhin department of the Grand Est region in northeastern France. Originating in the 12th and 13th centuries, it served as a strategic fortress overlooking the Alsace plain, reflecting the region's feudal and imperial past. Classified as a monument historique since 1965, the castle is now renowned for hosting La Volerie des Aigles, a bird of prey attraction featuring eagles, falcons, and vultures. Attracting around 150,000 visitors annually, it is a prominent stop along the Alsatian Wine Route, blending historical significance with modern eco-tourism.
Situated on a rocky outcrop in the western foothills of the Vosges Mountains, Château de Kintzheim stands at 260 meters above sea level, approximately 100 meters above the village of Kintzheim. The commune covers 18.79 square kilometers, with elevations ranging from 176 to 521 meters. It is bordered by Sélestat to the east, Orschwiller to the south, Lièpvre to the west, and La Vancelle and Châtenois to the north. The castle overlooks the Alsace plain and two valleys, with Hahnenberg Hill to the north and Praelatenberg to the south, the latter known for its grand cru Praelatenberg vineyards. Forests cover 560 hectares of the commune’s 2,360 hectares, complementing its viticulture and tourism. Kintzheim’s population in 2022 was 1,691, yielding a density of 90 inhabitants per square kilometer, and it has one preschool and elementary school. The time zone is Central European Time (UTC+01:00), shifting to Central European Summer Time (UTC+02:00) in summer.
Early Origins (6th to 12th Centuries)
The site of Château de
Kintzheim has roots dating back to the Merovingian era in the 6th
century, when it was known as "Regis Villa." This served as the center
of a vast royal domain under the Merovingian kings, encompassing the
valley of the Liepvre River and surrounding forests, including the area
that would later become Haut-Koenigsbourg. The village of Kintzheim
itself, originally called Gunigesheim, is first documented in historical
records around this time as part of these royal holdings.
In 774,
Emperor Charlemagne donated a portion of his forests in Gunigesheim to
the Abbey of Liepvre, highlighting the area's importance in early
medieval land grants. The following year, in 775, Charlemagne is
recorded as having spent Christmas at the "Palatium Selestatis," a
palace believed to have been located in or near Kintzheim, underscoring
its role as a significant stopover for imperial travels. By 843, under
the Treaty of Verdun, Emperor Lothair I granted the territory of
Kintzheim to Erchangar, Count of Nordgau, who was the father of
Richarde, the future abbess of Andlau Abbey. This transfer marked the
beginning of more localized noble control over the region.
Although
the area was inhabited and utilized for centuries, no fortified
structure existed on the site until the mid-13th century. Prior to that,
Kintzheim functioned primarily as an agricultural and forested domain
under various imperial and ecclesiastical owners.
Construction
and Medieval Development (13th to 15th Centuries)
The actual castle's
construction began around 1250 on the orders of Emperor Frederick II of
Hohenstaufen, a member of the Holy Roman Empire's ruling dynasty.
Frederick II died in the same year the work commenced, but the project
continued, with the keep (donjon) and outer ramparts completed by the
end of the 13th century. These early fortifications were designed for
defense, perched on a rocky spur overlooking the Alsace plain, providing
strategic oversight of the surrounding valleys.
The castle is first
mentioned in records in 1270 as the property of the Rathsamhausen
family, a noble Alsatian lineage. Residential buildings, including
living quarters and a chapel, were added during the 14th and 15th
centuries, transforming it from a purely military outpost into a more
habitable noble residence. In 1341, Emperor Louis IV (known as "The
Bavarian") granted the village of "Kinsen" (a variant of Kintzheim) to
the nearby town of Sélestat, integrating it further into regional
governance.
By 1492, under Emperor Frederick III of Habsburg, the
landvogt (imperial governor) of Alsace, Gaspard de Morimont, sold the
castle itself to the town of Sélestat, marking a shift from imperial to
municipal ownership. This period saw the castle at its medieval peak,
serving as a fortified stronghold amid the patchwork of Holy Roman
Empire territories in Alsace.
Decline and Destruction (16th to
18th Centuries)
The castle remained relatively intact until the
Thirty Years' War (1618–1648), a devastating conflict that ravaged much
of Europe. In 1633, Swedish forces partially destroyed the structure
during their campaigns in Alsace, leaving significant damage to the
walls and buildings.
In 1649, the town of Sélestat, seeking funds for
reconstruction elsewhere, sold the ruined castle for 3,000 florins to
Johann Georg von Gollen (or de Gallen), a former mayor of Sélestat and a
diplomat who had served as minister to Emperor Ferdinand III during the
Peace of Westphalia negotiations. Between 1650 and 1670, von Gollen
undertook restoration efforts, focusing on the residential buildings and
the chapel, though he never lived there himself.
From 1760 to 1780,
the castle's last known resident was a hermit monk who maintained the
chapel, adding a layer of spiritual seclusion to its history. The von
Gollen family and their heirs, including the Marquis de Broc, kept the
site in a state of basic upkeep through the 18th century. However, the
French Revolution of 1789 led to its abandonment, as noble properties
were seized or neglected amid the upheaval.
Abandonment and
Romantic Revival (19th Century)
By the early 19th century, the castle
had fallen into disrepair, with the roofs collapsing around 1830. In
1801, the Marquis de Broc attempted to sell it, and Sélestat expressed
interest, but ownership shifted in 1807 when Napoleon I decreed its
transfer to Mathieu de Faviers (or de Fabvier), who compensated Sélestat
with 2,000 silver marks. In 1802, Gaétan Mathieu de Faviers (later Baron
under the Second Empire) acquired it and constructed a Directory-style
manor house at the base of the ruins, surrounded by an English-style
romantic garden. This "jardin tableau" was designed to frame the castle
ruins artistically, drawing inspiration from painters like Nicolas
Poussin, Claude Lorrain, and Hubert Robert, aligning with the Romantic
movement's fascination with medieval ruins.
The Faviers family
connected through marriage to Jean-Georges Humann, a French Minister of
Finance, whose descendants played a role in later preservation efforts.
In 1876, amid a broader European trend of restoring medieval sites
(exemplified by Eugène Viollet-le-Duc in France and Bodo Ebhardt in
Germany, including the nearby Haut-Koenigsbourg restored for Kaiser
Wilhelm II in 1908), German architects (during the period of German
annexation of Alsace) consolidated the ruins to prevent further decay.
Modern Era and Preservation (20th Century to Present)
During
World War II, in the 1945 Battle for Alsace, the castle's keep served as
an observation post for Allied or German forces (accounts vary), and it
sustained artillery damage, partially destroying the tower.
Post-war,
in 1965 (or 1964 per some sources), the ruins were officially classified
as a Monument Historique by the French Ministry of Culture, ensuring
legal protection and funding for maintenance. In 1968, the site found
new life with the establishment of La Volerie des Aigles ("The Eagles'
Aviary"), a conservation center dedicated to birds of prey. This
initiative, focused on breeding and educating about endangered species
like eagles, falcons, and vultures, has restored parts of the castle and
attracts around 150,000 visitors annually with daily flight
demonstrations amid the medieval ruins.
The Château de Kintzheim is a medieval castle ruin perched on a rocky
outcrop at an elevation of approximately 260 meters in the commune of
Kintzheim, Bas-Rhin department, in the Alsace region of eastern France.
Overlooking the Alsace plain and two valleys to the north and south, it
dominates the small wine-growing village below, which spans about 2,360
hectares, including significant forested areas. The castle's site covers
around 3,800 square meters, with portions now dedicated to modern uses
like aviaries (850 m²) and display areas (800 m²). Originally
constructed as a fortified stronghold, the castle has evolved into a
romantic ruin integrated with an English-style park classified as a
Remarkable Garden by the French Ministry of Culture, featuring over a
hundred notable trees and designed to frame the structure like a
picturesque tableau inspired by 17th-century landscape painters. Today,
it hosts the Volerie des Aigles (Eagle Park), a conservation-focused
attraction showcasing free-flying birds of prey such as eagles,
vultures, falcons, and kites, drawing about 150,000 visitors annually.
The ruins were classified as a monument historique in 1965 (or 1964 per
some sources) and serve as a prime example of medieval Alsatian
architecture blended with 19th-century romantic landscaping.
Architectural Features and Layout
Château de Kintzheim exemplifies
medieval fortified architecture typical of the Holy Roman Empire's
influence in Alsace, characterized by its strategic positioning on a
small rocky spur about 100 meters above the village for defensive
oversight. The layout is compact and irregular, adapted to the terrain,
with a total footprint of around 3,800 square meters. The core structure
revolves around a prominent cylindrical keep (donjon), a tall tower
serving as the last line of defense, surrounded by thick ramparts that
form the outer enclosure. These walls, including a notable south wall,
were built to withstand sieges, featuring defensive ditches (such as the
old western defensive ditch) and likely embrasures for archers or early
artillery. The keep and ramparts, constructed primarily from local stone
(likely sandstone or granite common to the Vosges Mountains), date to
the late 13th century and exhibit Romanesque influences in their robust,
unadorned forms, with minimal decorative elements to prioritize
functionality.
Adjoining the keep are the remnants of residential
quarters added in the 14th and 15th centuries, including the main
building (logis) which housed living spaces for nobility, and a small
chapel for religious observances. The chapel, with its simple vaulted
interior, reflects Gothic elements introduced during later phases, such
as pointed arches or ribbed ceilings, though much is now ruined. The
overall plan likely included a bailey (courtyard) enclosed by the
ramparts, with access via a fortified gatehouse, though erosion and
destruction have obscured some details. Materials throughout are
dominated by roughly hewn stone masonry, bonded with lime mortar, and
originally topped with timber-framed roofs covered in tiles—elements
that deteriorated post-abandonment. The site's elevation and outcrop
provided natural defenses, eliminating the need for extensive moats, but
artificial ditches enhanced protection on vulnerable sides.
In its
current ruined state, the architecture blends medieval remnants with
19th-century interventions: the consolidated stonework from 1876
stabilized walls and towers, preventing further collapse, while the
integration of the Volerie des Aigles has added modern pathways,
enclosures, and viewing platforms that weave through the ruins without
altering core structures. The adjacent English park, created in the
early 19th century, transforms the approach to the castle into a
landscaped ascent, with winding paths, exotic trees, and vantage points
designed to evoke a sense of sublime decay, aligning with Romantic
ideals.
Notable Restorations and Modifications
Beyond the
initial 13th-15th century builds, key modifications include the
1650-1670 restorations under de Gollen, which repaired war damage to the
keep, main building, and chapel, possibly adding Baroque touches to
interiors though little survives. The 1876 consolidation by German
architects focused on structural integrity, using compatible stone to
shore up crumbling sections. World War II damage to the keep was
minimally addressed post-1945, prioritizing preservation over
reconstruction. The 1960s classification spurred ongoing maintenance,
and the 1968 installation of the Volerie des Aigles introduced adaptive
reuse: ruins were cleared and stabilized for public access, with
aviaries built into natural crevices and former residential spaces
repurposed for bird habitats. These changes emphasize conservation,
blending historical architecture with ecological education. No major
modern additions have altered the medieval footprint, maintaining the
site's authenticity as a ruin.
Since 1968, Château de Kintzheim has hosted La Volerie des Aigles, a bird park focused on conserving and rehabilitating endangered predatory birds like eagles, falcons, and vultures. Daily free-flight demonstrations allow these birds to soar over the ruins, showcasing their natural behaviors while educating visitors on biodiversity and environmental threats like historical eradication campaigns and agricultural expansion. The attraction, which charges an entrance fee and allows pets, emphasizes breeding programs and conservation. A cafeteria serves visitors, and the castle primarily functions as a backdrop for the bird shows. Nearby, the commune offers a stork park and marked trails through vineyards and forests, appealing to eco-tourists and wine enthusiasts.
The castle’s coat of arms, featuring the imperial eagle, reflects its Holy Roman Empire ties and shared heraldry with Sélestat, from which Kintzheim gained independence in 1834. The English-style park below, created in 1802, is culturally significant. The site’s strategic location and layered history—from Merovingian origins to WWII damage—make it a rich symbol of Alsace’s past, enhanced by its modern role in conservation and tourism.