See also: Schœneck

The castle of Schœneck is located in the Commune Frenchwoman of Dambach, in the department of the the Low-Rhine. Between Obersteinbach and the Wineckerthal, on D 53, to take the way which leads to the forest Maison of the Fischerackerhof and to borrow the path of the Vosgean Club Henri-Melon, marked out of a yellow rhombus.

History

The Château is probably built at the end of the 12th century or at the beginning of the 13th century on a rock peak with 380 meters of Altitude, undoubtedly at the instigation of the Hohenstaufen, to drive out of them the brigands to which it was used as refuge. Destroyed towards 1280, it is rebuilt in 1286 and is quoted in 1287 like property of the bishop of Strasbourg, combined Habsbourg. He entrusts the guard in 1301 to the family of Lichtenberg and the pledged one with the Schœneck.

In 1375, the bishop of Strasbourg Frederic de Blankenheim receives the agreement of the chapter and Jean IV of Lichtenberg to restore the castle. Work will take place until in 1390.

In 1440, at the time of a division of heritage between the last two lords of Lichtenberg, the castle returns to elder, Jacques. But, in 1464, the Elector Palatine Frederic seizes the castle temporarily, pretexting that the administration of Jacques is harmful with the interests of the family of Lichtenberg.

At the 16th century, the count Reinhard of Two Bridges-Bitche takes the knight Wolf Eckbrecht de Durckheim with his service and the seigniory under-stronghold in 1517 grants to him. The castle is then dilapidated, the lord de Durkheim was charged to restore it. It will be then modernized besides to adapt it to progress of the Artillerie between 1545 and 1547.

To the extinction of the counts of Two Bridges-Bitche in 1570, the totality of the castle is allocated to the counts de Hanau-Lichtenberg.

In 1663, the castle is devastated by a forest fire. Durkheim undertake its rebuilding then.

During the War Thirty Year old, the Château finally is destroyed in 1680 by the French troops directed by Monclar and Melac, on order of Louis XIV and, after the Révolution, the vestiges are bought by the Famille DE DIETRICH.

The Château is registered with the additional inventory of the Historic buildings since December 28th, 1984.

Building

A carries to bretèche ogival and a large flanked entry of two Bastion S of the 16th century provided with gun nières is still visible. The vestiges of the home Lord iaux and in particular both Window S higher than narrow bay and arc in semicircular arch, outside the Western enclosure, present plank S lombardes. In the west, a rectilinear curtain closes the farmyard while in the east, long a Muraille is flanked of two turns. The castle is the object of consolidation work and excavations carried out by association Cun Ulmer Grün since 2000.

Caption

In the year 1552, Cunon de Dürckheim, lord of the castle of Schoeneck and its dependences, the villages of Dambach and Neuhoffen, started a new day. Upright as of the dawn, Cunon knew that it would be well filled. Initially the prayer, then according to its practice, each time that was possible, it traversed the neighborhoods of its field, breathing the fresh air of wood and appreciating silence. It observed the game which it went, soon, to drive out with his/her companions. This shooting party to celebrate its birthday was envisaged for a long time. All the material had been prepared the day before, and its friends whom it had lodged with the castle, had, them also to be already ready. Hunting was always accompanied by a ritual which he liked. Cunon drove out primarily to nourish to them his and not, because he hated that, to make the tracking of the animals for the pleasure. I.e. to drive out without the nobility and the respect which should accompany it.

The day occurred as it had envisaged. They traversed the forest lengthily, and now, it was tired rides. He sat down on the bench which he preferred, in front of a small window which ensured to him a panoramic sight on these wood that he liked so much, surrounded by the noises of the meal, the fatty laughter and the prowesses of the acrobats. He reflected, because he was anxious. Could it be sure that its castle would hold in front of the attacks which would not fail to occur since it had decided to embrace the reformist cause? It had certainly reinforced it, and its adversaries knew it, but… While thinking of all that and the men who would perish, his glance lives to approach without any precipitation, two knights vêtus of obsolete armours. It had been said that they moved with a few centimetres of the ground. None the noises inherent in such a displacement were perceptible. The watchers, on the keep or the covered way, should already have informed it of their presence… But nothing! Cunon, amazed, saw them crossing the door without the drawbridge being lowered. Disconcerted, it precipitated towards the staircase which it went down to any pace… to find opposite strange riders to the fantastic pace. Before it had been able to outline the least gesture, one of both advanced and says to him of a powerful and solemn way: “Flies to the help of the castle of Windstein to the head of your soldiers without delaying! ”. And in the moment they disappeared both. Cunon, dumb-founded, wondered whether he had not dreamed, if the wine accompanying the meal by hunting had not disturbed the spirit a little to him. But not, it had been perfectly lucid, and, moreover, informed for a few days of movements of soldiers in the region. The message seemed to him completely realistic.

Without making noises and by a secret exit, it left the castle with the head of a good troop. Excel strategist, it realized that Windstein risked an imminent attack. It melted, really by surprise, on dormant warriors… Were the backs of the enemy in position of attack? One does not know any more… The history forgot. At all events, the troops dispersed quickly and the castle of Windstein, for this time, had its safety with two come strange knights one does not know from where.

In taken care of today, the glance of the children to which one tell the history of the phantom riders of Schoeneck in known as length on the mystery which surrounds them. The tradition, tough, adds that at certain periods, the two knights always grind around the castle, the sword with the hand, continuing an invisible enemy… Would they be from now on the guards of the treasure which one says buried in the interminable undergrounds of the elegant masonry?

Excavations

In 1881, first excavations, undoubtedly limited, took place, unfortunately it does not remain much of traces of what it had been discovered.

In 1981, one century later, new excavations are undertaken there. The team of Maurice Frey releases the entry with her two artillery bastions and the ditch. They find there a lintel of mouth with fire gone back to 1676 which proves the end of work of the XVIIe century. A little later the castle underwent the seat of the troops of Monclar. In 1983, Rene Schellmanns takes again the excavations and releases space in front of the large door in warhead. He discovers there in particular a forging mill with his sink.

In 2003, association Cun Ulmer Grün undertakes excavations on the level of the octagonal tower in the north-eastern part of the site. A stratigraphy out of the commun run is updated there. A part of 1656 discovered in the first layer of fire makes it possible to confirm the date of the event describes in a document of time, namely, 1663.