Château de Rothenbourg

The Château de Rothenbourg is a ruined castle in the commune of Philippsbourg. The castle, built on a hill called Rothenberg or Rodenberg, dates back to the 9th century. Around 912, the Bishop of Strasbourg, Otbert, pursued by rebellious subjects, took refuge at Rathburg which is perhaps Rothenburg, and was assassinated there shortly after.

The castle was certainly built by the Duke of Lorraine in the 13th century, and is constructed of dressed sandstone. At the end of the 13th century, it passed to the Counts of Zweibrücken-Bitsch. In the 14th century, Rothenburg partly belonged to Count Walram of Zweibrücken-Bitsch who gave it as a fiefdom in 1353 to Gerhard Harnasch von Weisskirchen.

In 1368, Rothenburg was taken and destroyed by the Strasbourgeois.

The castle seems to have given its name to the Blick de Rothenburg family, who held several fiefs from the Lords of Bitche, and who died out in 1749.

References:

• Wikipedia

Address

Philippsbourg, France

Details

Founded: 9th century AD
Category: Castles and fortifications in France
Historical period: Frankish kingdoms (France)