Château du Haut-Ribeaupierre
Encyclopedia
The Château du Haut-Ribeaupierre (Hohrappolstein) is one of three castle
s (with the Château de Saint-Ulrich
and the Château du Girsberg
) which dominates the commune
of Ribeauvillé
in the Haut-Rhin
département of France. Situated at an altitude of 642 m, it dominates the other two.
It is the oldest of the Ribeaupierre's castles, its existence being known from 1084. It was constructed on an ancient Roman site. Then known as the "Altenkastel", it was Anselme de Ribeaupierre who took possession of the castle in 1288. Around 1368, Brunon de Ribeaupierre became owner. Dedicated to a ferocious hatred for the English, he imprisoned Sir John Harleston, who had an imperial safe conduct, in the keep
from 1384 to 1387. He was only freed with the payment of a large ransom and after pressure from the Holy Roman Empire
. At the end of the 13th century, the castle became a residence of the Ribeaupierres. Another noted prisoner was held in the keep in 1477. Philippe de Croy
, Count of Chinay
, ally of Charles the Bold, was captured by a Ribeaupierre at Nancy.
The castle today is completely ruined and surrounded by dense vegetation. It is being preserved.
It has been listed since 1841 as a monument historique
by the French Ministry of Culture.
Castle
A castle is a type of fortified structure built in Europe and the Middle East during the Middle Ages by European nobility. Scholars debate the scope of the word castle, but usually consider it to be the private fortified residence of a lord or noble...
s (with the Château de Saint-Ulrich
Château de Saint-Ulrich
The Château de Saint-Ulrich is one of three castles which dominates the commune of Ribeauvillé in the Haut-Rhin département of France...
and the Château du Girsberg
Château du Girsberg
The Château du Girsberg is one of three castles which dominates the commune of Ribeauvillé in the Haut-Rhin département of France. It stands at an altitude of 528 m.It was the Lords of Ribeaupierre who built the castle in the 13th century, then named Stein...
) which dominates the commune
Communes of France
The commune is the lowest level of administrative division in the French Republic. French communes are roughly equivalent to incorporated municipalities or villages in the United States or Gemeinden in Germany...
of Ribeauvillé
Ribeauvillé
Ribeauvillé is a commune in the Haut-Rhin department in Alsace in north-eastern France.Its inhabitants are called Ribeauvillois.The picturesque town is located around north of Colmar and south of Strasbourg.-History:...
in the Haut-Rhin
Haut-Rhin
Haut-Rhin is a département of the Alsace region of France, named after the Rhine river. Its name means Upper Rhine. Haut-Rhin is the smaller and less populated of the two departements of Alsace, although is still densely populated compared to the rest of France.-Subdivisions:The department...
département of France. Situated at an altitude of 642 m, it dominates the other two.
It is the oldest of the Ribeaupierre's castles, its existence being known from 1084. It was constructed on an ancient Roman site. Then known as the "Altenkastel", it was Anselme de Ribeaupierre who took possession of the castle in 1288. Around 1368, Brunon de Ribeaupierre became owner. Dedicated to a ferocious hatred for the English, he imprisoned Sir John Harleston, who had an imperial safe conduct, in the keep
Keep
A keep is a type of fortified tower built within castles during the Middle Ages by European nobility. Scholars have debated the scope of the word keep, but usually consider it to refer to large towers in castles that were fortified residences, used as a refuge of last resort should the rest of the...
from 1384 to 1387. He was only freed with the payment of a large ransom and after pressure from the Holy Roman Empire
Holy Roman Empire
The Holy Roman Empire was a realm that existed from 962 to 1806 in Central Europe.It was ruled by the Holy Roman Emperor. Its character changed during the Middle Ages and the Early Modern period, when the power of the emperor gradually weakened in favour of the princes...
. At the end of the 13th century, the castle became a residence of the Ribeaupierres. Another noted prisoner was held in the keep in 1477. Philippe de Croy
House of Croÿ
The House of Croÿ is an international family of European mediatized nobility which held a seat in the Imperial Diet from 1486, and was elevated to the rank of Imperial Princes in 1594...
, Count of Chinay
Chinay
Chinay , or Tsinay, is a colloquial or slang term for a female of Chinese ancestry who has been raised in the Philippines. It is the feminine form of Chinoy, which is itself a modification of the term Pinoy to indicate Chinese origin....
, ally of Charles the Bold, was captured by a Ribeaupierre at Nancy.
The castle today is completely ruined and surrounded by dense vegetation. It is being preserved.
It has been listed since 1841 as a monument historique
Monument historique
A monument historique is a National Heritage Site of France. It also refers to a state procedure in France by which national heritage protection is extended to a building or a specific part of a building, a collection of buildings, or gardens, bridges, and other structures, because of their...
by the French Ministry of Culture.