From Riquewihr, the Wine Route took us back out into the vineyards. This time we drove up a mountain to the castle at Königsbourg. It was closed by the time we got there at 5:45, so we just walked around the outside. It’s a huge castle built of red rock, dating back to 1147. It was occupied/sieged in 1462 by knights, then sieged again during the 30 Year War by the Swedes. They pillaged it, then it fell into disrepair and neglect. In 1899 the castle was given as a gift to Emperor Wilhelm II. 1900-1908 it was restored to the way it was in 1479. Then in 1918 it was returned to France and in 1919 it was classified as a National castle.
We would’ve liked to have gone in. It was beautiful up on the mountain top, with great views of the vineyards and farms spreading in the valley below.
Look at the hardware on this door!
After wandering around the castle exterior, we drove on through more vineyards with a spectacular sunset and big clouds in the east catching the light. Went through more small towns, also worthy of visiting had we had time and energy.
Our Frankfurt Germany Mission 