Haut-Koenigsbourg Castle, in Alsace, is open every day except January 1 and December 25 and 26; admission costs €12 (€8 for ages 6–17, free under 6) and the visit takes about an hour, two hours on site including the walk from the car park. Perched at 757 m (2,484 ft) above the Alsace plain, this fortress, first mentioned in 1147, was restored from 1900 to 1908 for Emperor Wilhelm II. Here are the hours season by season, the prices, the best times to avoid the crowds according to the castle, shuttle access and the rules to know (strollers, dogs).
The castle overlooks the Alsace Wine Route: see our guide to visiting Alsace and its villages.
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Haut-Koenigsbourg: key facts
- 2026 hours: 9:30 am–6 pm from April to June and in September–October, 9 am–7 pm in July–August, 9:30 am–12 pm and 1–5 pm from November to March; on Mondays, opening at 10:30 am — checked on 23 October 2026 on haut-koenigsbourg.fr
- Last entry: one hour before closing.
- Prices: adult €12, ages 6–17 €8, reduced €6, family (4 people, including at most 2 adults) €30; free under 6.
- Free for everyone: the first Sunday of the month from November to March, on Museum Night and on European Heritage Days.
- Duration: about 1 hour for the visit, 2 hours on site in total, according to the castle.
- Parking: free, 150 spaces around the castle.
Haut-Koenigsbourg opening hours in 2026
The castle publishes its hours in an interactive calendar; we recorded them from the data published by the official website. Check the date of your visit, as the castle may issue an "hours alert".
| Period | Tuesday to Sunday | Monday |
|---|---|---|
| January 1–March 31 | 9:30 am–12 pm and 1–5 pm | 10:30 am–12 pm and 1–5 pm |
| April 1–June 30 | 9:30 am–6 pm | 10:30 am–6 pm |
| July 1–August 31 | 9 am–7 pm | 10:30 am–7 pm |
| September 1–October 31 | 9:30 am–6 pm | 10:30 am–6 pm |
| November 1–December 31 | 9:30 am–12 pm and 1–5 pm | 10:30 am–12 pm and 1–5 pm |
In winter, the castle closes between 12 pm and 1 pm: arriving at 11:30 am therefore leaves half an hour of visiting before the break. On Mondays, opening is pushed back to 10:30 am all year.
When to come to avoid the crowds
The castle publishes a crowd indicator by time slot. On the day we checked, it showed low attendance at opening (9:30–10 am), medium from 10:30 am to 12:30 pm, then low from 1 pm. Its FAQ advises, during school holidays and long weekends, to come right at opening or about two hours before closing.
Tickets and prices
| Ticket | Price |
|---|---|
| Full-price adult | €12 |
| Young people aged 6 to 17 | €8 |
| Reduced rate and people with disabilities | €6 |
| Family with children aged 6 to 17 (4 people max., including 2 adults max.) | €30 |
| Under 6 | free |
| Companion of a person with a disability | free |
| Guided tour | +€2 |
| Castle Pass (annual subscription) adult / family / additional young person | €20 / €45 / €15 |
- Buying: on site (euro cash, cards except American Express, French holiday and culture vouchers) or on the official online ticket office, tickets.haut-koenigsbourg.fr.
- Shuttle: the shuttle ticket from Sélestat (€3 each way according to the FAQ) entitles you to the reduced rate at the entrance.
- Regional passes: the castle accepts the Pass’Alsace and the Museums-PASS-Musées.
- Booking: the castle does not require a time slot for individual visitors; themed tours and events may require a supplement.
What to see at Haut-Koenigsbourg
The visit follows a single route that climbs from the lower courtyard to the keep. The castle spreads over 21 levels, linked by 300 steps of varying heights.
- The lower courtyard: accessible from the car park; the first staircase is at the ticket check.
- The Kaiser’s Hall: the grand reception hall of Wilhelm II’s restoration; six suits of armor from the late 15th to the 17th century have been reinstalled there after restoration, according to the castle.
- The keep: open to the public again after two years of work.
- The star-shaped bastion: redeveloped to house a restaurant, a bookshop and a seminar space, according to the castle.
- The picnic area at the end of the route, from April to October depending on the weather.
Nine centuries of history in six dates
- 1147: first mention of the castle, called Castrum Estuphin, built by the Hohenstaufen.
- 1479: the Tierstein family rebuild and enlarge the fortress.
- 1633: siege, looting and fire during the Thirty Years’ War, followed by two centuries of abandonment.
- 1899: the town of Sélestat gives the ruins to Emperor Wilhelm II.
- 1900–1908: complete restoration by the architect Bodo Ebhardt.
- 1919: the castle becomes the property of the French state; it now belongs to the European Collectivity of Alsace.
The castle was a film location for Jean Renoir’s La Grande Illusion, and inspired Hayao Miyazaki for Howl’s Moving Castle, the official website notes.
Mistakes that complicate the visit
- Coming with a stroller: not allowed in the castle (300 steps). An unattended stroller room exists in the basement of the ticket office; bring a baby carrier.
- Coming with your dog: no animals are admitted, even in a bag, and none may be left unattended outside. Only guide and assistance dogs are accepted.
- Bringing a tripod: private photos and videos are allowed, but tripods are not.
- Arriving at noon in winter: closed from 12 pm to 1 pm from November to March.
- Underestimating the altitude: at 757 m (2,484 ft), it is cooler than on the plain; bring a jacket.
Best time to visit Haut-Koenigsbourg
The table combines the Météo-France normals at Strasbourg-Entzheim, on the plain (the castle, at 757 m / 2,484 ft, is cooler), with the closing time and the sunset time calculated at the castle.
| Month (15th) | High on the plain | Rainy days (≥ 1 mm) | Castle closing time | Sunset at the castle |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 5.2 °C (41 °F) | 9.1 | 5 pm | 5:03 pm |
| February | 7.3 °C (45 °F) | 8.3 | 5 pm | 5:52 pm |
| March | 12.1 °C (54 °F) | 8.5 | 5 pm | 6:35 pm |
| April | 17.0 °C (63 °F) | 8.6 | 6 pm | 8:20 pm |
| May | 20.9 °C (70 °F) | 10.8 | 6 pm | 9:03 pm |
| June | 24.4 °C (76 °F) | 10.2 | 6 pm | 9:32 pm |
| July | 26.4 °C (80 °F) | 10.4 | 7 pm | 9:27 pm |
| August | 26.1 °C (79 °F) | 9.5 | 7 pm | 8:45 pm |
| September | 21.6 °C (71 °F) | 8.0 | 6 pm | 7:43 pm |
| October | 15.8 °C (60 °F) | 9.6 | 6 pm | 6:42 pm |
| November | 9.4 °C (49 °F) | 9.2 | 5 pm | 4:52 pm |
| December | 5.9 °C (43 °F) | 10.2 | 5 pm | 4:36 pm |
How to read it: from May to July, it rains more than 10 days a month in Strasbourg, but the sun sets after 9 pm, long after closing time. In November and December, the sun sets around 4:40 pm, before the castle closes: come in the morning to enjoy the view.
Getting there and parking
- Location: above Orschwiller (Bas-Rhin), 26 km (16 mi) north of Colmar, 55 km (34 mi) south of Strasbourg and 12 km (7 mi) west of Sélestat, according to the castle.
- By car: A35, exit 17 (Kintzheim) or 18 (Saint-Hippolyte), or D1059 via Lièpvre. Free car park with 150 spaces, about ten motorcycle spaces.
- By shuttle: line 500 from Sélestat station, from March to December according to an annual calendar; it also serves the Montagne des Singes and the Volerie des Aigles.
- On foot or by bike: the castle offers a 31 km (19 mi) cycling route and hiking ideas for walking up.
Accessibility
From the car park, a 300 m (980 ft) dirt path with a slight uphill leads to the castle. The outdoor areas up to the lower courtyard are wheelchair accessible with a companion, but the ticket office has steps and the visitor route is not wheelchair accessible. Six spaces are reserved for people with disabilities at the top of the car park; rest seats line the route.
What to see nearby
The castle combines with the villages of the Wine Route: Riquewihr, Colmar to the south, and Strasbourg to the north. At the foot of the massif, the shuttle serves the Montagne des Singes and the Volerie des Aigles at Kintzheim. See entry requirements for France.
Frequently asked questions
What is the admission price for Haut-Koenigsbourg?
€12 for an adult, €8 for ages 6 to 17, €30 for a family (4 people including at most 2 adults), free under 6. The guided tour costs €2 extra.
How long does the Haut-Koenigsbourg visit take?
About an hour, self-guided or guided; the castle allows two hours on site in total, from the car park and back.
Is Haut-Koenigsbourg open all year?
Yes, every day except January 1 and December 25 and 26. From November to March, it closes from 12 pm to 1 pm.
Can you visit Haut-Koenigsbourg with a stroller?
No, strollers are not allowed because of the 300 steps. An unattended stroller room is provided under the ticket office.
When is admission free?
On the first Sunday of each month from November to March, during Museum Night and on European Heritage Days.
How do you get to Haut-Koenigsbourg without a car?
By shuttle (line 500) from Sélestat station, from March to December. The shuttle ticket entitles you to the reduced rate.
Our sources
- Haut-Koenigsbourg Castle (haut-koenigsbourg.fr): "Practical information" pages (prices, hours, crowd levels, access, rules), "Frequently asked questions", "History of the castle", "Castle accessibility", "Visitors with reduced mobility", consulted on 23 October 2026
- Wikipedia: "Château du Haut-Kœnigsbourg" article, consulted on 23 October 2026
- Météo-France: climate sheet for Strasbourg-Entzheim (67124001), 1991–2020 statistics
- Sunset: Destination de Voyage calculation, NOAA solar algorithm, Europe/Paris time zone, coordinates of the castle, on the 15th of each month (year 2027)
- Our methodology
Updated November 2026. Prices and hours may change: check the official website before you go.