Château de Kintzheim

Kintzheim was known in the 6th century under the name of Regis Villa. The Merovingian kings had made it into the center of a vast domain including the valley of the Liepvre River and the forests of Haut-Koenigsbourg.

The construction of the castle began around 1250 on the order of Emperor Frederick II of Hohenstaufen. The keep and the rampart which belongs to it were finished at the end of the 13th century. The residential structures were built during the 14th and the 15th centuries.

In 1633, the castle was partly destroyed by the Swedes during the Thirty Years' War. Between 1650 and 1670, J. G. de Gollen restored the residential buildings and the chapel, but never actually lived in there. Between 1760 and 1780, the last resident of the castle was a hermit monk who took care of the chapel.

In 1802, the future Baron of the Second Empire, Gaetan Mathieu de Fabvier, bought the castle, and below it he built a manor house in the Directory style. Between the two structures he built a park in the English style. He created a romantic landscape garden, or jardin tableau, to highlight the view of the ruined castle, inspired by the paintings of Nicolas Poussin, Claude Lorraine and Hubert Robert.

During the 19th century, the romantic movement brought medieval castles back into style. In 1876, German architects carried out a consolidation of the ruins of Kintzheim.

Since 1968, the Château de Kintzheim has featued La volerie des aigles ('The Eagles' Nest'), which presents species of predatory birds, such as eagles, falcons and vultures, which are in danger of extinction. Spectators can attend daily flights of the birds.

References:

• Wikipedia

Address

Kintzheim, France

Details

Founded: c. 1250
Category: Castles and fortifications in France
Historical period: Late Capetians (France)