Ruines des Châteaux du Nideck

Château du Nideck is a vestige of the Middle Ages. It is located in the commune of Oberhaslach, some forty kilometers from Strasbourg. The story goes that mysterious giants protect the inhabitants of the Nideck region. One day, a giant?s daughter, who had ventured out onto the plain, brought back a frightened farmer and his entire carriage in her apron pocket. "What beautiful toys!" she exclaimed, showing him to her father, who exclaimed: "What have you done, my child! Let us respect the worker who cultivates the land and feeds us". In fact, the two castles are clearly distinct, the result of a family division of which a charter dating from 1336 is the only evidence. The two castles on the site occupy the extremity of a 534-metre-high ridge overlooking the Hasel valley. The upper castle features a moat and a shield wall. Its very small habitat is poorly preserved. The lower one features a square keep protecting a cramped dwelling. The lower one dates from the mid-13th century, while the upper one seems to date from the early 14th century. The first mention of the castle dates from April 17, 1264, and refers to Sire BOURCKARD, Burgrave of Nideck. In 1336, Nideck was a fief of the Bishop of Strasbourg, in the hands of the Landgraves of Lower Alsace. In 1373, it was in the hands of the burghers of Strasbourg. In 1380, it was used to hold the citizens of Strasbourg to ransom. In 1393, the city of Strasbourg lobbied Bishop Frédéric de Bankenheim to return the castle to the burghers. The same year, a peace was concluded between squires and knights. In 1422, a new peace stipulated rules for cohabitation, supplies and armament. In 1448, during the Wasselonne war (Strasbourg fights the Count of Fénétrange to punish him for helping the Armagnacs). Château du Nideck, the Count's stronghold, was besieged and taken. Between 1450 and 1454, the town of Obernai seized the castle where one of its former rebel Stettmeisters had taken refuge. In 1454, Louis de Lichtenberg took the castle from André Wirich, an ally of the Count of Linange. The Müllenheim family came into possession of half the castle following a partition, and held it until 1509. In 1636, a major fire destroyed the castle once and for all.
In 1816, the Nideck legend appeared in the Grimm brothers' book of legends. It was this text that inspired the poet Adelbert von Chamisso to compose Das Riesenfräulein - the Giant's Daughter. A commemorative plaque celebrates the Romantic poet, who died in 1838.
Its superb forest setting, waterfall and unique panorama of the Bruche valley, Guirbaden castle and Champ du Feu.
Accessible by footpath only

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