In the western bastion, among the various artillery pieces on display, this 17th-century culverin immediately catches the eye. Resting on its wooden carriage, pointed towards the loopholes, it seems ready to fire. Its slender silhouette contrasts with the shorter, more massive cannons: the culverin is a long weapon, designed to fire smaller projectiles but with far greater range and accuracy.
The piece, with its dark metal patinated by centuries, tells the story of the transition between medieval weapons and modern artillery. It evokes the era when gunpowder began to reshape warfare, forcing fortresses to rethink their defenses, their bastions, their geometry, and even the thickness of their walls. Placed in this bastion, facing the openings designed for defense, this culverin takes on its full meaning: it serves as a reminder that Haut-Kœnigsbourg was not just a prestigious castle, but also a modern fortress for its time, designed to withstand the evolving demands of warfare.

A Historical Aside – What is a culverin?

• The culverin is a light cannon, longer than medieval bombards.
• Its name comes from the Latin word colubrinus (“serpent”), referring to its slender shape.
• Appearing as early as the 15th century, it was commonly used in the 16th and 17th centuries.
• It fired small-caliber projectiles, but with a much greater range than heavier weapons.
• Its increased accuracy made it ideal for hitting distant targets, harassing the enemy, or defending the approaches to a fortification.
• The arrival of weapons like the culverin profoundly influenced siege techniques and the construction of more geometrically designed bastions, adapted to artillery.