7 Old Ruins to Explore in Grand Est

Checkout places to visit in Grand Est

Grand Est

Grand Est is a vast new region in Eastern France, the unification of the former historical regions of Champagne-Ardenne, Alsace, and Lorraine. Its geographical location – bordering Belgium, Luxembourg, Germany, and Switzerland – makes of the Grand Est an interesting cultural melting pot which can be clearly seen in its architecture and tasted in its gastronomy.

Activities Around

Old Ruins to Explore in Grand Est

Château de Saint-Ulrich

The castle of Grand-Ribeaupierre, known under the name of the castle of Saint-Ulrich, is one of the three castles which dominate the commune of Ribeauvillé, in the Haut -Rhin. It is located at an altitude of 528 m. It has been classified as a historical monument since October 1841and February 1930. The currently visible remains date from several eras. The castle is a very fine example of the military architecture of Alsace in the Middle Ages. It is the largest and best-preserved of the three cas

Château du Haut-Kœnigsbourg

The Château du Haut-Kœnigsbourg is a medieval castle located in the Orschwiller commune. Built-in the 12th century, the castle bore witness to eight centuries of European conflicts and rivalries between feudal lords, kings, and emperors. From 1900 to 1908 it was rebuilt at the behest of the German Kaiser Wilhelm II. Today it is a major tourist site, attracting more than 500,000 visitors a year. It’s the only medieval castle in Alsace that has been fully restored.

Douaumont Ossuary

The Douaumont ossuary is a memorial containing the skeletal remains of soldiers who died on the battlefield during the Battle of Verdun in World War I. This modern French ossuary contains the jumbled bones of 130,000 WWI soldiers. The Ossuary is a gallery-shaped building surmounted by a Lantern of the Dead tower. It has been designated as a national cemetery that contains the remains of both French and German soldiers who died on the Verdun battlefield.

Hohlandsbourg Castle

The Hohlandsbourg castle is located in Wintzenheim, near Colmar in the Haut-Rhin. Capital of the Habsburg lordship, the castle was built in 1279 by Siegfried de Gundolsheim, acquired in 1563 and modernized by Lazare de Schwendi. It was dismantled during the Thirty Years' War. One of the main attractions that were interested by tourists. It has been listed since 1840 as a monument historique by the French Ministry of Culture and It is open to the public between Easter and 11 November.

Malbrouck Castle

A beautiful and majestic castle which was listed as a historical monument. It stands atop the wooded hill of Meinberg and was constructed between 1419 and 1434. , it was occupied by the Duke of Marlborough during the War of Spanish Succession. Now it was a tourist attraction and invites visitors to enjoy several historical and architectonical highlights. You can visit this castle for free and can enjoy this beautifully restored site.

Palais Rohan

The Palais Rohan de Strasbourg was built between 1732 and1742 to plans by Robert de Cotte, Principal Architect to the King, for Cardinal Armand-Gaston de Rohan-Soubise, Prince-Bishop of Strasbourg. It is a major architectural, historical, and cultural landmark in the city which was Reflecting the history of Strasbourg and of France.

The Three Castles of Eguisheim

The three castles of Husseren-Les-Châteaux were a group of castles that were built in close proximity to one another, but not at the same time, on a low hill ridge and it is variously named after the nearby town of Eguisheim. It has a rich history to say and it is one of the prime attractions in this area. You can understand the rich history of these castles by wandering in this place and it will be a worth visit.

Map of Old Ruins to explore in Grand Est