In the castle's grand hall, a veritable ceramic monument immediately catches the eye: a tall, multi-tiered stove, richly decorated, positioned as much as a sculpture as a heating appliance. Its deep green, glazed hue captures the light, giving it an almost emerald sheen, worthy of a treasure.

Built for efficient heating, this type of stove—called a Kachelofen in German—combines utility and aesthetics. It rests on a massive base, then rises in successive tiers, like an enameled tower. Each of its earthenware tiles was meticulously reconstructed during the castle's restoration, using fragments found on site.

This stove is not merely a source of heat, but a symbol of luxury and craftsmanship: its style draws inspiration from ancient stoves, including the 1501 model from the Austrian fortress of Hohensalzburg. The fact that it was reconstructed demonstrates the importance placed on authenticity during the castle's restoration.

About ceramic stoves (kachelofe)

• These stoves made of earthenware (or ceramic) tiles are typical of Alsace and Central Europe: their name, Kachelofen, comes from German.
• They operate by thermal inertia: once heated, their mass retains heat for a long time, allowing a room to be heated sustainably and efficiently.
• The restoration of Haut-Kœnigsbourg Castle involved reconstructing the stoves from original fragments, using glazed tiles to respect the original shape and style.
• The artistry of these stoves often reaches a high level of decoration: the tiles can be sculpted, painted, or decorated with heraldic, mythological, or floral motifs.
• Among the famous producers of tiles for this type of stove is the Sommerhuber factory, founded since the 15th century: it creates stove tiles in very varied styles (Gothic, Renaissance…), which shows the tradition and craftsmanship expertise in this field.