Medieval Majesty: Conquering Haut Koenigsbourg Castle

At a Glance

• Duration: One full day trip‍
• Home Base: Colmar, France‍
• Memorable Moment: Looking out from the battlements over the entire valley—the view was easily the best photo opportunity of     the trip.‍
• Overall Vibe: Historically immersive, logistically smooth, and surprisingly cold!

This trip was special because...

Our day trip to Château du Haut Koenigsbourg was absolutely amazing—in fact, Tom declared it his favorite thing we did on the whole trip! This castle isn't just ruins; it's one of the most perfectly and fully renovated medieval castles in the region. It sits high up on a mountain, giving it this imposing majesty and providing a panoramic view that you simply cannot miss. The castle itself tells a fascinating story of European history, making it a powerful and immersive experience.

Since it doesn’t take a whole day when you leave early, we went back to Colmar and took the local bus to Turkheim. Turkheim is lovely and has very few crowds. The outer wall is still largely intact and makes the walk around the town a fun experience.

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Getting There:

Getting to the castle felt like a mini-adventure, but it was surprisingly smooth! We took the train to the town of Sélestat and from there, we caught the Bus 500. The bus ride was super easy, and the round-trip ticket only cost us about €5. We took one of the earliest trains to catch an early bus to try and beat the tour buses. This ended up being a very good decision since it is very busy and during our visit in September, it was only open on the weekends, making it even more crowded.

Pro-Tip: Make sure you wear layers! It was 10 degrees colder up at the castle than it was down in the valley. The wind up there is no joke!

Pro-Tip: Show your bus ticket to the castle ticket office for a discount.

Exploring the Castle

The castle is fully renovated, which means you get a complete picture of medieval life. It’s so detailed that it’s impossible to take it all in during one visit. We definitely recommend getting the audio guide—it added so much depth to the experience.

• The Details: We were fascinated by the small, unique details. We learned about the symbols used by the medieval stonemasons that were carved into the walls and realized that these were basically early branding marks so they could get paid. We also loved seeing the massive, beautiful ceramic plated stoves that were used for heating. The armory was incredible, showcasing weapons and defenses used during the time.‍
• The View: The best part, by far, was climbing up to the battlements. The views of the valley below were breathtaking, and the photo opportunities were easily our favorite of the entire trip.

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Sightseeing in Turckheim

After the castle, we had time, so we went back to Colmar and caught the local bus to Turckheim. This is another fantastic little walled medieval city and the closest to Colmar, making it easy to spend a few hours touring the walls around the city and the half-timbered houses and storefronts. There is a museum dedicated to veterans that is interesting.

The Night Watchman: Turckheim is famous for its Night Watchman, who walks the town's perimeter every evening from May to October, keeping up a centuries-old tradition. If you visit in winter, it's known for having a unique, rustic-style Christmas market.

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What We Loved (and Didn't)

We loved how immersive the castle was—it didn't feel like ruins, it felt like history come to life. The view from the battlements was truly unforgettable. The one thing we didn't love was being underprepared for the cold weather! Our plan was to do a hike around the castle, and we had one already mapped out, but we were so cold by the end of our castle tour, we decided to leave. The castle is high up on that mountain for a reason, so definitely pack a jacket.

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