Château de Warthenberg

A castle revealed by excavation: Warthenberg / Daubenschlagfelsen

It was in 1979 that the presence of a fortified castle of which nothing was known, including its name, was discovered on the Daubenschlagfelsen rock above Ernolsheim-lès-Saverne.

From 1981 to 1992, twelve years of archaeological excavations enabled the CRAMS (Centre de recherches archéologiques médiévales de Saverne) to uncover the remains of this fortified castle built in the mid-12th century and destroyed before 1200. It is the Castle of Warthenberg, known by a single archival mention of 1158

The main component elements, a 3.80 metre thick shield wall, an 11 metre square-section keep, which makes it the third largest in Alsace by ground dimensions after those of Greifenstein and Lutzelbourg / Zorn, residential buildings, chapel, entrance device and two filter tanks are now visible.

The castle is not accessible by car. The shortest way to the Daubenschlagfelsen is a signposted walk from the church of Ernolsheim-lès-Saverne (20 minutes walk). For those unfamiliar with the area, it is advisable to take the "blue rectangle" path of the Club Vosgien leading from the car park of the Croix de Langenthal (above Saint-Jean Saverne) to Dossenheim-sur-Zinsel and passing through the site (45 minutes walk).

The maintenance and development of the site is carried out by the association "Pro Daubenschlag"

Source: Bernard Haegel, René Kill, Warthenberg Castle (Daubenschlagfelsen), guide to the remains, Saverne 1991.