Château du Birkenfels

Ottrott, France, France

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Château du Birkenfels is a medieval castle ruin located in the forests above Ottrott in the Bas-Rhin department of Alsace, northeastern France.

Built around 1260, it was originally a small noble residence rather than a major military fortress and overlooked an ancient Roman route linking Mont Sainte-Odile with the Bruche Valley. The castle was associated with the Beger family, vassals of the Bishop of Strasbourg, and remained in noble hands for centuries. After suffering damage and periods of abandonment, it eventually fell into ruin following the Thirty Years’ War.

Today, visitors can explore the remains of the keep, walls, courtyard, and defensive structures. One of the site’s most unusual features is its unfinished pentagonal keep, which appears never to have been fully completed. Surrounded by woodland at an elevation of about 675 meters, Château du Birkenfels is a popular stop for hikers exploring the castle trails of Alsace. The ruins have been protected as a French historic monument since 1984.