Château du Nideck

Alsace · France · Castle ruin

By Alsatian legend, the ruined castle above the waterfall housed the last of the giants, whose daughter carried a ploughman home in her apron.

High above a waterfall in the Vosges lie the ruins of Nideck, home of the last giants in local folklore. The famous tale, recorded by the Brothers Grimm, tells how the giant's daughter playfully scooped up a ploughing farmer, horse and plough and all, and carried them home in her apron – whereupon her father sternly made her return the 'toy', for without farmers to till the soil, even giants starve. Around the moss-grown towers the presence of the giants is said to linger, and the gorge with its thundering fall has always been regarded as enchanted ground.

FAQ

Where is Château du Nideck located?

Château du Nideck is in Alsace, France.

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Accounts are drawn from local folklore and visitor reports.

Image: Zéphyrios · CC0 · Wikimedia Commons