Castle of Lichtenberg
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Attribution: By Getum - Self-photographed, CC BY-SA 2.0 de, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=4471220
The Castle of Lichtenberg was built at the beginning of the 13th century by the powerful Counts of Hanau-Lichtenberg. The castle is first mentioned in 1206 as home to the Lords of Lichtenberg. In the following decades, the Lords of Lichtenberg became the Counts of Hanau-Lichtenberg.
Further renovations were needed in the 16th century to protect the castle against a newly designed weapon: the cannon. Famous architect Daniel Specklin (who had also completed the fortifications of Strasbourg) was hired to transform the castle into a fortress. Despite that, the castle was captured by Louis XIV in 1678 after an eight day siege; as a result, it came under the control of the Kingdom of France.
During the Franco Prussian War of 1870, the castle was bombed by German troops and left behind in ruins. It remained within German territory until the end of the First World War, when it was returned to France.
The castle was fully restored in the 1990s and it is now open to the public.
Further renovations were needed in the 16th century to protect the castle against a newly designed weapon: the cannon. Famous architect Daniel Specklin (who had also completed the fortifications of Strasbourg) was hired to transform the castle into a fortress. Despite that, the castle was captured by Louis XIV in 1678 after an eight day siege; as a result, it came under the control of the Kingdom of France.
During the Franco Prussian War of 1870, the castle was bombed by German troops and left behind in ruins. It remained within German territory until the end of the First World War, when it was returned to France.
The castle was fully restored in the 1990s and it is now open to the public.
Added by Maya Kuris
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