Haut-Kœnigsbourg: The Kaiser's Castle, the Eagles and the Barbary Macaques
Grand Est, France
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275
XP
+100 France
= 375 total
2 days
Haut-Kœnigsbourg: The Kaiser's Castle, the Eagles and the Barbary Macaques
275 + 100 XP
Haut-Koenigsbourg stands at about 755m over the Alsace plain, rebuilt for Kaiser Wilhelm II between 1901 and 1908 by the Berlin architect and archaeologist Bodo Ebhardt, who set out to put it back as it stood around the year 1500. Below it at Kintzheim, the Volerie des Aigles has flown birds of prey from the ruined castle since 1968, and more than 200 Barbary macaques roam 24 hectares of forest at the Montagne des Singes; south along the Wine Route, Ribeauville's three castles line the ridge.
Required Activities
1
of 5
Tour Haut-Koenigsbourg, opened by Wilhelm II in person on 13 May 1908 as a museum to the Germanness of Alsace and as the western marker of his empire, the twin of Marienburg in the east; stand on the great bastion looking over the plain to the Black Forest, and pick out the walls Jean Renoir used for the exteriors of La Grande Illusion in 1937
2
of 5
Watch the birds of prey fly over the ruins of Kintzheim castle at the Volerie des Aigles
3
of 5
Walk the forest trail at the Montagne des Singes among the Barbary macaques living loose around you, and watch one group long enough to work out its order - who feeds first, who waits, and which females are carrying young
4
of 5
Walk the 6km loop from Ribeauvillé to its three castles, Saint-Ulrich, Girsberg and Haut-Ribeaupierre
5
of 5
Taste Riesling and Gewurztraminer at a winemaker's cellar in a village on the Wine Route, such as Riquewihr
Tour Haut-Koenigsbourg, opened by Wilhelm II in person on 13 May 1908 as a museum to the Germanness of Alsace and as the western marker of his empire, the twin of Marienburg in the east; stand on the great bastion looking over the plain to the Black Forest, and pick out the walls Jean Renoir used for the exteriors of La Grande Illusion in 1937
Watch the birds of prey fly over the ruins of Kintzheim castle at the Volerie des Aigles
Walk the forest trail at the Montagne des Singes among the Barbary macaques living loose around you, and watch one group long enough to work out its order - who feeds first, who waits, and which females are carrying young
Walk the 6km loop from Ribeauvillé to its three castles, Saint-Ulrich, Girsberg and Haut-Ribeaupierre
Taste Riesling and Gewurztraminer at a winemaker's cellar in a village on the Wine Route, such as Riquewihr
Before you go
The Volerie des Aigles and the Montagne des Singes are both closed from mid-November to late March. Each costs about 12 euros an adult and 8 a child, under-5s free.
The eagle flights are at fixed show times, up to four a day in July and August and as few as one at the start of the season - get the day's times before you set off.
The Haut-Koenigsbourg car parks fill early and the last stretch of road is steep with hairpins; there is a shuttle from Selestat in season.
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About Grand Est
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Challenge Location
XP Breakdown
Challenge XP
275 XP
France country bonus
+100 XP
Potential total
375 XP
Country bonus earned on completion of your first challenge in France.
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