The knights tower

Haguenau

Street of the Knights
67500
Haguenau
03 88 06
tourisme@agglo-haguenau.fr
Languages ​​spoken
Français

Location and access

  • The Tower of the Knights - OTP
  • The Tower of the Knights - OTP
This gate tower, of square plan built in brick around 1235, has a transverse passageway with a broken barrel vault. It is one of the rare vestiges of urban military architecture in Alsace from the 13th century. This gate tower was part of the second city wall. Moreover, at the top, the steeple was used to sound the alarm in case of threat. But, after the construction of the third enclosure, it lost its usefulness and housed a powder magazine. From 2 and until 1763, it served as a cantonal prison, which explains why the lighting slits, facing the interior of the city, are fitted with bars. The adjoining house was built in 1918 as a prison and gave access to the dungeons of the tower. In 1763 the transverse passage was created, doubling that of the tower. The name of Tour des Chevaliers could evoke a building occupied in the Middle Ages by valiant warriors, ready to pounce on the enemy. However, it is not. The tower owes its name to the Ritter family, which means "knight" in Alsatian, neighboring the tower.

Practical information and services

Type of places to visit
Remarkable monument, house or neighborhood
Visit formulas
Free tour
Addressed to
Groups
Families
Couples
Adults (individuals)

Location

Situation
In the town / village center
Name of the nearest station
Haguenau
Nearest station (in km)
0,5