Can you visit Lœwenstein Castle freely?

The site is freely accessible, but it consists of scattered ruins in the forest, reachable only on foot.

How long does the walk to reach it take?

No duration is specified, but the route follows a marked trail from Gimbelhof to the Hohenbourg car park, then a signposted path.

What remains of the castle today?

Only a cistern is still visible, as the castle was destroyed as early as the late 14th century and again in the 17th century.

Why was the castle destroyed?

It reportedly served as a hideout for robber knights, which led to its destruction by imperial vicar Johann of Lichtenberg in 1386.

Is the castle a protected historic monument?

Yes, the ruins have been listed as a historic monument since a decree of 6 December 1898.

Château de Lœwenstein

Lœwenstein Castle

Wingen

Visit

Hours to be confirmed

Book a visit

Tickets via our partner GetYourGuide, affiliate link

Where: Wingen

Hours and prices not verified at the source yet.

To make a day of it

Open within 20 km

Sleep nearby

Château de Lœwenstein stands in Wingen (Bas-Rhin), in the Grand Est region of France. The building is listed as a historic monument (dating recorded in the Mérimée database: 12th century). Its opening hours and prices have not been verified at the source yet.

Deep in the forested Bas-Rhin countryside near Wingen, the ruins of Lœwenstein Castle amount to very little: a cistern is the only tangible remnant of a medieval stronghold once split between two noble families. Reaching it takes effort, via a marked forest trail from Gimbelhof, making this as much a hike as a heritage visit. Visitors come less for architecture, long gone, than for the setting and the turbulent history of the place, including its destruction and a legend of robber knights.

Written from Château de Lœwenstein

What to know

Only a cistern remains visible, the rest being mere ground-level remnants.
Access is on foot via a marked forest trail from the Gimbelhof car park, passing by Hohenbourg.
Sturdy walking shoes are advisable, as the path runs through unmanaged forest terrain.
The site has been a listed historic monument since 1898, but has no visitor hours or admission fees.
The visit is more of a hike than a tour of a developed monument.

Where this château is

Wingen · Bas-Rhin · Grand Est

Map of the area around Château de Lœwenstein

Loading the map…

This châteauChâteaux within 40 km

Address

67510 Wingen

Directions open from wherever you are, by car or public transport.

Get directions View on a map

4.7 / 5from 354 Google reviews

Heritage status: Listed historic monument (classé); Mérimée record PA00085241
Period of construction: 12th century

Itineraries

In pictures

Frequently asked

Can you visit Lœwenstein Castle freely?: The site is freely accessible, but it consists of scattered ruins in the forest, reachable only on foot.
How long does the walk to reach it take?: No duration is specified, but the route follows a marked trail from Gimbelhof to the Hohenbourg car park, then a signposted path.
What remains of the castle today?: Only a cistern is still visible, as the castle was destroyed as early as the late 14th century and again in the 17th century.
Why was the castle destroyed?: It reportedly served as a hideout for robber knights, which led to its destruction by imperial vicar Johann of Lichtenberg in 1386.
Is the castle a protected historic monument?: Yes, the ruins have been listed as a historic monument since a decree of 6 December 1898.