Château du Hagelschloss

Ottrott, France, France

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Château du Hagelschloss, also known as Château de Waldsberg, is a medieval castle ruin located near Ottrott in the Bas-Rhin department of Alsace, northeastern France.

Built during the late 12th or 13th century on a sandstone spur overlooking the Hagelthal valley, it was part of a network of castles around Mont Sainte-Odile and helped control nearby imperial and monastic lands. The castle changed hands among several noble families during the Middle Ages.

After conflicts with the city of Strasbourg, it was besieged, captured, and dismantled in 1406. Unlike many other castles in the region, it was never rebuilt. Today, the site survives as a modest but atmospheric ruin in a forest setting. Its most distinctive feature is a large masonry arch spanning a U-shaped rock formation, along with remnants of walls and fortifications.

Accessible by hiking trails near Mont Sainte-Odile, Château du Hagelschloss attracts visitors interested in medieval history, archaeology, and the natural beauty of the Vosges foothills.