Imperial City  

The imperial town of Kaysersberg developed at the foot of the castle, surrounded by forests and vineyards. The castle was built by the Holy Roman Emperor Frederick II (1194-1250) following a conflict with the Duke of Lorraine who threatened to invade Upper Alsace.

Strategically built on the road linking Upper Alsace to the Duchy of Lorraine, the fortified castle locked the entrance to the valley and controlled the passage, which allowed the development of the town. The city developed inside a first enclosure in the 13th century, of which some vestiges are still visible from the rue de l'ancien Hôpital.

A second and a third wall were built to enlarge the city from east to west, and in 1514 the fortified stone bridge was rebuilt. The bridge remains a unique military defense work in the region. Remains of the fortifications and defensive towers still remain in the city today.