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The porch tower

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This building, known as the ‘porch tower’ or ‘former dovecote’, is one of the few remains of the castle built by the royal bailiff Jean Gaspard de Hatzel on the Geisberg hill between 1711 and 1716. Perfectly oriented and with an unobstructed view over the Rhine plain, this beautiful architectural ensemble was largely destroyed by fire during the fighting in 1940, and could not be rebuilt. 

Originally, on the ground floor, this building was crossed by two carriage gates dating from 1711, to enter or exit the castle’s inner courtyard. Right here, a century ago, you would find yourself in this courtyard, a vast square bounded to the east (behind you) by the main building, and in other directions, by agricultural outbuildings. 1

Following the French Revolution, the estate was divided up and partly purchased by the Mennonites, who had been farming it since the 1720s. In 1849, one of them, Daniel Hirschler, sold the porch tower to the community, so that it could be used for worship. Built on the 1st floor, the chapel was used from 1849 to 1973 – with an interruption from September 1939 to August 1947, when it was damaged by a shell in 1940 and had to be restored (see interior view below). Prior to the Second World War, this was not the only place of worship for the congregation, which met alternately at various farms in Northern Alsace and the Palatinate, from where many of its members came. 2

Originally, for the needs of the De Hatzel family, the castle housed a chapel dedicated to Saint Martin, served by the Augustinian monks of Wissembourg; and two bells topped its main entrance. Interestingly, the larger of the two remained in use until 1939, announcing Mennonite worship – before disappearing during the war. Its ‘little sister’, dated 1714, has fortunately survived to the present day.

In 1962, the porch tower ceased to be a ‘passageway’ since two rooms, on the ground floor, were created to accommodate children’s ‘Sunday school’ and Bible study. Around 1970, as the premises became cramped for the 65 or so members of the community and their children, it was decided to build a new chapel, which was inaugurated in 1973. The aging porch tower ceased to be used for good in the early 1980s. Although there was no shortage of ideas for rehabilitating the building, such as setting up an archive on Mennonite history or creating a hostel for youth groups, no plans were ever realized.

In 1990, the building was included in the supplementary inventory of historic monuments, along with other remains of the castle: the gatekeeper’s house (2, rue Gaspard de Hatzel) and the two corner pavilions of the garden enclosure, one of which is clearly visible in the garden of today’s church (11, rue du château). 3

Since 2012, the porch tower has been the property of the town of Wissembourg. For the time being, the framework has been consolidated, and a tarpaulin placed on the roof to limit water infiltration.

 
Notes

  1. A model of the castle, together with various objects and archive documents, are on display in an exhibition room in the Mennonite chapel, which can be visited on request. To contact us, scan here
  2. See also: Jean HEGE, “Chapelles et lieux de rencontre des mennonites de l’Outre-Forêt”, in Souvenance Anabaptiste n°42-2024 (Bulletin annuel de l’AFHAM, Association française d’histoire anabaptiste mennonite), pp.42-55. See also: www.histoire-menno.net
  3. See the “Geisberg – château et ferme” entry in the Inventaire Grand-Est database

 

Illustrations

  1. The porch tower, adjoining outbuildings and, in the foreground, vineyards on the outskirts of the castle. Postcard circulated in 1913, ed. Hofmann & Reitz Kunstverlag, Strasbourg.
  2. The main building of Geisberg Castle as seen from the porch tower, before 1940. Postcard published by R. Ackermann, Wissembourg.
  3. Above the pulpit, the wall bears a verse from Hebrews 13.8: “Jesus Christus gestern und heute und derselbe auch in Ewigkeit”: Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and for eternity. (Private collection, Jean Hege)
  4. Detail of the bell at the Geisberg. Zacharie Rohr, 1714. Photo credit: Philippe Jacky
  5. At the inauguration of the restored chapel on August 31, 1947. (Private collection, Jean Hege)
  6. Rear view of the chapel, circa 1970-71. (Private collection, Jean Hege)