The main quarry of the castle could be located on the main parking area (P2).

Fortification type

This is a barred spur: entrenchment at the end of a rocky promontory cut by a ditch or a wall…

Building time

It depends on several factors: the financial investment of the future lord, the size of the castle, weather conditions, wars, workforce… In absolute terms, it takes between 5 and 10 years to complete such a castle.

Several shops necessary to a castle’s life, like a blacksmith, a wheelwright or a carpenter… are established here.

A defense role

The farmyard is a part of the defense system. The attackers are forced to move accross it, leaving them completely exposed under the shots of the defenders. It is also the gathering place of the village’s population in case of capture by the enemy.

Role

Everything suggests that this infrastructure has been set up to make the visit to the ruin more attractive and more “romantic”.

Several elements support this hypothesis:

Nowadays

This pathway is walked by all visitors and offers many views of the surroundings.

1. Latrines (Toilets)

Unlike antique and monastery toilets, people do their « personal business » alone & individually.

The castle’s inhabitants use ceramic chamber pots for the night and latrines (remains visible on the top of the surrounding wall).
After-use cleaning is done with oakum (non-woven linen fiber, wad/stuffing) or old fabrics cutouts.

Excreta are evacuated in the ditch or in a cesspool (large tank), emptied daily to avoid pestilential smells.

Regarding to poliorcetics (art of attacking strongholds), latrines remain a weak point of the fortification, because they allow direct intrusion into the castle.

2. Body Cleansing

The lord takes baths, while peasants only wash visible parts of their bodies (hands, forearms, face…) and sometimes go to the public bathhouses.

On the other hand, full delousing is a daily routine. Complete body hair removal prevents vermin to locate into intimate parts.

Hygiene “kits” (with tweezers, earwax spoon, nail cleaners, etc.) were found in Alsace during archaeological excavations.

3. Bathtime

Besides body cleansing, bath is also a time for pleasure & lust, where having meals and drinks.
Men and women, take their bath together. At that time it was not considered a sin.

In town, public bathhouses often turn into libertine clubs.

Detailed view of Strasbourg Cathedral

Latch systems in the frame

2. Kitchen

Meals are cooked here for all of the High-Castel’s inhabitants.

The kitchen is composed of a raised hearth (like in all Alsatian castles), with several fires dedicated to the different preparations.

A monumental hood collects the fumes and allows to hang meat or fish to be smoked.

Meal menus are elaborated by the steward according to the available stocks from the cellars. Daily hot meals usually include broth (soup) or stew.

During banquets, extra staff is often hired to make up for the lack of manpower.

In order to replace staff, automated rotisserie systems are developed using a propeller, driven by the hot air of a fire.

3. Water well

Drinking water supply is challenging for mountain castles. Springs are deep and sandstone does not retain water (which explains that the castle has no moats, but only ditches).

A filtration cistern collects rainwater from the roofs and walkways through a piping system (to be observed on the walkway before the square tower). By running off through sand and stone, water is loaded with minerals and filtered at the same time, before being stored in the cistern.

The majority of the Alsatian population is Catholic, but the territory is also home to a large Jewish community.

All Alsatian castles possess their own chapel. That of the castle dates back to the 15th century and is dedicated to Saint-Jacques le Majeur.

It remains private and is only used for church offices bringing together the lord and his family, then the bailiff and his family.

Besides religious services, the chaplain is responsible for educating and teaching the lord’s children.

Myths & legends

This chapel is the source of many legends. The most emblematic one is that of a young woman, who heard whispers and pleas escaping from the vaults of the building on the night of Saint-Jacques (July 25)…

Window seat

2. Customs and Entertainment

While seated at the table, habits and customs must be respected. For example, it is forbidden to wipe on the dress of the guest seated next, to put the hand on her/his thigh, or to talk with mouth full… under penalty of fine or exclusion from the table.

Musicians called “Minnensanger” and performers (acrobats, jugglers, bear tamers, jesters, etc.) are invited to enliven the meal.

Usually prohibited, other entertainements such as gambling (dice, cards, bets on races…), are exceptionally allowed but closely supervised by the clergy.

To perfume and bring color to the room, the floor is covered with fresh flowers or herbs depending on the season.

1. Open fireplace

This type of fireplace has been found in Alsace since Roman times. The diffused heat can only be felt in front of it, leaving the back to cold. It almost has purely decorative function.

Its size and height enables to enhance the lord and to use more or less large logs.

2. Ceramic Wood Stove

This ceramic stove appeared at the end of the Carolingian period. It is used for heating “Stubes” (Alsatian living rooms), and allows a uniform distribution of heat throughout the room.

The raw material used for heating comes from the surrounding woods which belong to the lord. Many charcoal burners from the massif also provide fuel for the castle.

Braziers

They are used by guardsmen to keep themselves warm on patrol paths.

Insulation

Although windows are key to bringing light into the home, they also let cold coming through.

Before the 15th century, the glazing (uncommon at that time) was often replaced by a wooden frame covered with oiled parchment or coated fabric.

Wooden shutters help keep the heat in, but plunge the room into darkness. Another mean to prevent from cold and humidity is to cover the walls with curtains and wood paneling.

The notches on either side of the window seats (benches) can be used to wedge the beams to block the wooden shutters and to add straw to reinforce insulation.

As opposed to popular belief, banquets are rare and prepared only for celebration days or visits from important people (prelate, burgomaster, provost, etc.)

Wine, then called Hypocras, is a common drink, even for children.

Wine-making process being not mastered in medieval times, wine was flavored and honeyed to make it more digestible.

Food preservation

Because food preserves did not exist at that time, people used to eat seasonal vegetables, and legumes, cabbage and squash during winter.

Meat and fish are salted, dried or smoked for preservation.

1. Passive protection devices

2. Active protection devices

* Machiolation are used to dump hot water, pitch, heated sand or excrement (but never boiling oil considered a luxury product). Furniture and stones can also be thrown at attackers.

The dungeon

In Alsace, dungeons (called “Wohnturm”) are not used as dwellings but only as reduced areas (last defense space before the fall of the castle). It is also the place of command for the ramparts and towers in the event of an attack.

Its height testifies to the power of the lord (here, it culminates at 40m). In the 15th century, an artillery terrace was added to its top.

According to field observations, the castle of Kintzheim must have had a ditch as well as an advanced structure in front of the door: barbican and/or retaining wall. In the 15th century, it had a shield wall or screen wall (west wall). This wall, thicker than the ramparts, is oriented towards the threat and makes it possible to resist throwing weapons such as bricoles (mangonel, trebuchet…) and the first musket-slits (cannons).

3. The garrison

The garrison of an Alsatian castle is only composed by a few soldiers. In the 15th century. Kintzheim, had four men-at-arms and one sergeant.

Maintaining a troop is expensive and few lords can afford such an expense. In compensation for the lack of soldiers dedicated to guarding and maintaining order, each able-bodied man residing in the castle (with the exception of the lord) must devote part of his time to it.

System also found in cities (militia). In case of conflict, the lord requires (if any) his vassals and his peasants (ban) and/or mercenaries.

2. Trade

Thanks to the extent of the Holy Roman Empire, encompassing a large part of Europe, trade with other countries is flourishing. Many exotic products were thus available in Alsace throughout medieval times: spices, silks, weapons, precious stones, art; moreover, the “Renaissance” began in the 15th century in the Empire.

To have cash, the lord can sell one of his possessions or contract a “usurious loan” from the members of the Hebrew community. Not only these people had to signify their membership of the Jewish religion by wearing a yellow wheel on their clothes, they were also limited to lender or livestock seller jobs.

According to René Kill, this water device is a drinking trough for herdsmen leading their cattle to pasture.

In medieval times, it wasn’t located outside the castle as it is today, but was protected by a first rampart (today forming an embankment at the back of the pond), which was probably closed by a barbican (at the current location of the terrace).

The base of the rampart is widened by addition of an inclined wall, which one has several functions:

Nowadays

This protected wetland reserve is home to newts, salamanders and other batrachians.