The unique atmosphere of the château du Haut-Koenigsbourg has been an inspiration for many artists, especially for those in the glamorous world of film-making.
At the end of the 1930s, Jean Renoir chose this Alsacian fortress to be a backdrop for his film "La Grande Illusion", now recognized as being a masterpiece of French, and indeed world cinema. A witness to France and Germany's sometimes turbulent past relationship, the château du Haut-Koenigsbourg is a perfect setting for this film, which promoted a humanist and pacifist message and was made shortly before the start of the Second World War.
During the summer of 1956, Jacques Becker filmed "Les aventures d'Arsène Lupin" at the château. Robert Lamoureux played the title role.
Several decades later, John Howe, the famous illustrator of Heroic Fantasy publications, fell in love with the château's mysterious atmosphere on his first visit here during the 1980s. He used it as the inspiration for the design of the 'Citadel of Minas Tirith' after he was appointed to the post of Conceptual Designer for Peter Jackson's 'The Lord of the Rings' trilogy.
On a very different note, the fortress also inspired the famous Japanese film director Hayao Myasaki, a master in the art of animated film-making. He visited the château du Haut-Koenigsbourg during a film location-spotting trip to the region and its influence can be seen in his animated film 'Howl's Moving Castle'.
The château is also instantly recognizable as the location for French rock group Dionysos' music video, 'Miss Acacia' (2006).
The very special ambience and setting of the château du Haut-Koenigsbourg continues to be a source of fascination for creative artists and a source of inspiration behind many artistic masterpieces!