Attractions and Places To See in Ballons Des Vosges - Top 20

ATTENTION: Sentier des Roches is closed from 1 November until 30 April.

Saunt Ulric Castle is the largest of the three ruins. It is currently undergoing partial renovation. A small section is cordoned off, and caution is advised in other areas. However, the keep is accessible.

A charming Alsatian village with approximately 4,700 inhabitants. The old town is well worth seeing with its colorful houses. Ribeauvillé is also very popular because of the hike to its three castle ruins that overlook the town.

Ulrichsburg is the most impressive and best-preserved of the three castles. It was built on the rocky promontory around the mid-13th century. Until the 15th century, it was the residence of the Rappoltstein family and therefore has little military significance. Remains still visible today include: - the square keep and the main building (12th century), - the knights' hall and the large residential tower (13th century), - the barbican in front of the entrance and the outer wall (14th century), - the Chapel of Saint Ulrich (15th century). Girsberg Castle, built around 1250 opposite Ulrichsburg, was intended to strengthen its defenses.

Beautiful castle ruins, the view of the vineyards and the Rhine plain is gigantic. The climb is very varied, but not without its challenges! There are a few short rocky passages that can be slippery, especially when wet, and may need to be managed with the help of your hands. Good footwear is definitely recommended.

The Château de Saint-Ulrich is an impressive ruined castle located near Ribeauvillé in Alsace, France. The castle was built in the 11th century and sits on a rock high above the surrounding countryside. The Château de Saint-Ulrich consists of various ruins and remains, including parts of the defensive walls, towers and residential buildings. It is a remarkable example of medieval architecture and offers magnificent panoramic views of the vineyards and Alsace. The castle played a significant role in the history of the region and was owned by the Lords of Ribeaupierre, a noble family that played an important role in Alsace. Over the centuries, the Château de Saint-Ulrich was destroyed and rebuilt several times until it was finally abandoned in the 17th century.

With 1,363 meters above sea level, the Hohneck is the third highest peak in the Vosges. It is also one of the most iconic, and perhaps the most beloved. Next to the Route des Crêtes, it is the ideal starting point for family hikes. The view it offers is simply splendid. It magnificently dominates the lake of Schiessrothried, the slope being very abrupt in this place. A real postcard landscape perfectly representing the Vosges mountains.

Very beautiful castle ruins of the Castle of Saint-Ulrich. Of the three remains that stand above Ribeauvillé, Ortisei is undeniably one of the most fascinating castle complexes in Upper Alsace. It once oversaw the strategic connection between the Alsatian plain and the Lièpvre high valley. The castle bears witness to the power of the Lords of Rappoltstein, whose main residence it was until they were finally abandoned in the 16th century. Different architectural styles therefore coexist: Gothic and even Renaissance elements have been added to the Romanesque parts. As early as 1084 the St. Ulrichsburg was mentioned as castrum Rappoltstein. It was probably built in the 11th century on Roman foundations and is considered the oldest of the three castles located "on a mountain". It is the actual ancestral seat of the old noble family of Rappoltstein. It was the most powerful in the country and shared with the German emperors several times The family died out in 1673. The Ulrichsburg can be regarded as a characteristic example of a larger castle, and still enough of it has been preserved that the viewer can reasonably gain a coherent picture square donjon. Above all, the palace with nine beautiful double-arched windows on the south side has been preserved. They were richly furnished in the manner usual for state rooms, with small columns in the middle, openwork decoration in the arch field and a ball trimming on the wall pillars. It is also interesting the Romanesque fireplace in a room, which was probably built in the 11th century that has been used. The castle was expanded by Count Smassmann (Maximin) von Rappoltstein. In 1435 he built the castle chapel dedicated to St. Ulrich, in which the altar still stands and from which the castle takes its name. In the dungeon of Ortisei, Kunigunde von Giersberg, known for her beauty, served life imprisonment for the murder of her husband Wilhelm von Hungerstein (end of the 15th century). The castle was abandoned during the Thirty Years' War and has since fallen into disrepair. Source: https://www.burgenwelt.org/france/st_ulrich/object.php