The Morimont Castle is set on a headland at 522 meters, between the villages of Oberlag and Levoncourt. Built before 1183, the fortress guards the upper Largue valley, a communication axis between Alsace and Switzerland.

The castle

This tumbled-down castle’s has one main characteristic : it is the only Alsatian castle made of limestone.
Another geographical characteristic took away the castle’s strategic role- it is surrounded by hills! Seen from the outside, the battlements have an asymmetrical and trapezoidal shape. The wall-walks are high and sturdy. Seven semi circular towers of different shapes and sizes account for the impression of invulnerability. Nearly all towers have "meurtirières" (arrow slits) certainly dating from the end of the 15th century. These "meurtrières" were meant for horizontal firing, the most devastating method known at the time. Access to the inner stronghold (keep) was well guarded.

Looking carefully one may distinguish 2 periods of construction :

  • First period : In the southern part of the castle, the Medieval period with a donjon built on a rock, then a chapel and the Hall in the south-east axis. In the middle a staircased tower stands alone over the ruins of the medieval hall. A Renaissance Tower most certainly built on the remains of an earlier 14th century tower.
  • Second period : All of the Northern part dates from the 15th to 17th century. Mighty towers, spacious and well lit outbuildings. And a central tower with a well 115 meters deep according to writings.

The castle was destroyed for the first time in 1228 by troops of the Bishop of Strasbourg, opposed to those of the Count of Ferrette. Rebuilt, it was acquired in 1271 by the Bishop of Basel. In 1324, at the death of the last Count of Ferrette, the castle was inherited by the Counts of Habsburg, and the Morimonts became their vassals.

The Castle was destroyed by an earthquake on October 8th 1356.

After the Confederate raids of 1445 and 1468, the structure was enclosed with a trapezoidal shaped wall (enceinte) with 7 round towers adapted for military use by Pierre de Morimont.

In 1852 the Morimonts sold the Castle to the Counts Ortemberg-Salamanca, of Spanish origin, who kept it in their possession until the Thirty Years War (1618-1648). The Castle was occupied by Swedish troops from 1632 on, then destroyed by the French in july 1637. The Castle, one of Alsace’s finest fortress, was not rebuilt. Used as a stone quarry, it doubled up as an Inn in 1755 kept by the nobles Vignacourt, lords of Morimont since 1641.

In july 1826, the Castle of Morimont made History for the Swiss Jura region. An oath was taken to free Swiss Jura form Bern’s oligarchic control by three men : Xavier Stockmar, Louis Quiquerez and Olivier Seuret. This act marked the start of a long struggle that led to the creation in 1979 of the Republic and Canton of Jura, 23rd Swiss canton.

With the decree of February 2nd 1792, the ruins of the castle were declared “National property” and sold to Joseph Bruat, Judge at the Civil Court of Altkirch. His heirs sold it in 1808 to Aaron Mayer a native of Durmenach living in Geneva. In turn, his heirs sold it in 1870 to the Viellard family of Morvillars. Important restoration work started in 1865 by A.Quiquerez has been carried since.
Classified in 1841 by the Historic Monuments of France.

The ruins of the old castle are best known because of it’s vast underground vault, unique in Alsace ( 57 meters by 10m wide and 5m high ) where the " Oath of Morimont" was pledged in 1828.