The ruined remains of the Château d'Engelbourg in Thann

In the heart of Alsace, France, the Château d'Engelbourg is a captivating reminder of a once grand castle. Built in the 13th century by the comte de Ferrette, it stood guard over the Thur valley. However, following the treaties of Westphalia which joined Alsace to France, the castle lost its strategic importance. In February 1673, the intendant Mathias Poncet de la Rivière ordered the dismantling of the castle, which was executed by miners from Giromagny.

After several attempts, the large tower of the donjon collapsed and broke into several parts; one of these parts fell to form what was nicknamed « l'Œil de la Sorcière ». In the 19th century, these spectacular ruins were immortalized in several romantic engravings. The remains of the building were officially classified as historic monuments in 1898.

Since 2006, young volunteers have come every year to restore the ruins of the castle through the association Études et Chantiers Grand Est. From 2006 to 2012, sections of walls and ramparts, including a defensive structure against artillery, were uncovered and consolidated. A very detailed survey was conducted during this time, allowing for a computer-based 3D reconstruction of the site.

The donjon is a circular tower, known as the tour des Sorcières, which is a cylindrical flanking with short archers and oval gunports. The castle's oval shape, 150 m long and 70 m wide, is set on a small hill at an altitude of 445 m, surrounded by tiered enclosures. The castle was previously the residence of the comtes de Ferrette and later the Habsburgs.

Sources: Wikipedia, OpenStreetMap, Wikidata, Wikimedia Commons