The fate of this village was always bound to that of the castle of Haut-Koenigsbourg.
Initially ownership of " Hohenstaufen ", then successively of the Dukes of Lorraine, of the Counts of " Werde ", landgraves of  lower Alsace.
The castle is enfeoffed to powerful Alsatian families.
In the 15th century Lords - bandits made it their haunt , that led it to be destroyed by a league of cities and Lords.
Being hardly reconstructed in the end of the 15th century, the Swedes brought it to a state of ruins in 1633, during the Thirty Years' War.
The city of Sélestat offered it to the German emperor Friedrich Wilhelm II, who ordered the complete restoration of it. From 1901 till 1908 this was achieved under the lead of architect Ebhard.

Above the village the castle of " Haut Koenigsbourg ", dating from the 12th and 15th centuries, draws up after having been rebuilt at the beginning of the 20th century with its double strengthened surrounding wall, its solid mass square dungeon, its round towers, by using its vestiges of 12th and 15th centuries, in particular the windows of the seigniorial home, the "Lions' gate " with the " Thierstein's escutcheon ", its decoration and its inner garden.
The rebuilding has been debated heatedly but, as a whole, remains acceptable .
Indeed, certain parts never existed, certain details are too richly treated, the interior lay out was transformed i.e. the room of the knights or the festivity hall with i.e. the famous inscription " I did not want this " attributed to the emperor speaking about the war of 1914 -1918 and affixed not on its command, but on personal initiative of an ironworker, the " Lorraine " room, etc...
Ruins of the " Oedenbourg's castle " or " Small-Koenigsbourg " of the 12th and 13th centuries, with polygonal enclosure, wall shield, ogival windows.
Old houses of the 15th century still exist.
An old yard " colongère ".
The Saint-Maurice church of the end of the 18th century, with its baroque frontage out of pink sandstone, its organ, the pulpit of the " Récollets " of Sélestat.
Nearby the Haut-Koenigsbourg, the Saint-Joseph chapel dating from the 17th century.

Altitude 240 m. 540 inhabitants. Flower decked village* 2003.
Summer Health resort at the foot of the Vosges mountains.
From the promontory of the " Haut-Koenigsbourg ", panoramic sight on the Vosges, the Plain of AIsace and the Black Forest.
Castle of the " Haut-Koenigsbourg " :
Phone : + 33 3 88 82 45 82 - Fax :+ 33 3 88 82 50 61.
Pedestrian excursions.
Passage of the GR5, many paths marked out by the Vosgean Club.
Vine: Route des Vins d'Alsace.
Wine grower's cooperative.
Brandies made by local distilleries.
Mixed-farming.
Festival of the " Open Cellars " on August 15th and 16th.
Patron's festival on September 22nd.
" Medieval Evenings ": Supper of time and theatre: information and reservations at Phone : + 33 3 88 82 71 31- Fax : +33 3 88 82 37 65.
Camp-site.
Bed and Breakfast
Tourist Office of the Haut Koenigsbourg, Kintzheim - Orschwiller :
Phone : + 33 3 88 82 09 90 - Fax :+ 33 3 88 82 11 62.

Christmas and Year-end festivities :
Please see http://www.alsace-noel.com