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In his meditation on the Stations of the Cross with the Holy Father – on Good Friday 2025 in the Roman Colosseum – Pope Francis, who died on Easter Monday of this year, invited us to let Jesus on the cross look at us. A few short sentences from this meditation seem to me to fit well with the small sacred memorial located here: + “We go our usual ways and you come towards us. Your eyes look into our hearts. (…) Jesus is your name, and truly, ‘God saves’ through you. The God of Abraham who calls, the God of Isaac who cares, the God of Jacob who blesses, the God of Israel who delivers: in your gaze, Lord, … lies a whole revelation. In your footsteps leading out of the city, we see our departure into a new land. You came to change the world: for us, this means changing direction, seeing the good you have left behind, and allowing the memory of your gaze to continue to work in our hearts.” (Pope Francis)

Built in 1247 to control the valley and the neighboring abbey, the castle features a large, 24-meter-high square tower and a courtyard. Fragments of polychrome frescoes can be seen on one of the ruins' arches—with the carved chimney gables, they display a rare level of sophistication in the 14th century. Over the past 20 years, it has been restored, making it more accessible.

The castle was built around 1264 by the Lords of Andlau, Knights of the Holy Roman Empire of the German Nation, and was largely spared the destructive fury of the Thirty Years' War. During the French Revolution, the castle was confiscated as national property and sold to a merchant in 1796, who resold it piece by piece from 1806 onward, without much notice. In 1818, the Andlau family bought back the castle to preserve its remains. This painstaking and meticulous work is now undertaken by the association "Les Amis du Château d'Andlau" (Friends of the Castle of Andlau).

Magnificent viewpoint with a bench overlooking the village of Andlau and the Alsace plain

Beautiful castle ruins. The view of the valley is also magnificent. :)

Each of these crosses, which bikers often come across in the fields or, as here in Andlau, on prominent points in the mountains with a wide view of the surrounding landscape, are a sign of remembrance of the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus Christ. "Here on earth there is His memory, but in the kingdom of heaven there is His presence: this presence is the joy of those who have already attained salvation. The memory is our consolation, as we are still wanderers and journeying towards the fatherland." (Bernard of Clairvaux)

Very beautiful in every season. Here above the fog in the sun

The Bear with Grapes / L'Ours au Raison. Beautiful bronze cast in the middle of the village