Could this narrow opening before you be more than just a gap in a wall? This is the Porte Koeberlé. It is a unique feature of the Mur Païen. The Porte Koeberlé offers us a glimpse into the past. It reveals secrets of those who built and used this ancient structure.
The Porte Koeberlé is named after Eugène Koeberlé. He was a surgeon from Sélestat. Koeberlé was renowned for his abdominal surgery. He achieved great results through strict asepsis and post-operative care. After retirement, Koeberlé turned to archaeology. He focused on the Mur Païen of Mont Sainte-Odile.
In 1877, Eugène Koeberlé discovered this gate. It was located in the northwest section of the wall. This section was towards Hagelschloss. Today, the Porte Koeberlé bears his name in honor of his discovery.
Interestingly, Koeberlé also owned the Château de Lutzelbourg. It was near Phalsbourg. He carried out significant work there too.
The Mur Païen’s northern transversal wall suffered damage. During the Middle Ages, parts were taken to build the Dreistein castles. For hundreds of meters, only traces of the wall remain. The Porte Koeberlé stands further north. Here, the Mur Païen regains its impressive presence.
The builders cleverly used a fault in the rock. They integrated massive sandstone blocks to create an entrance. On the eastern side, they used a large rock for support. To the west, they built the wall to form a narrow passage. This design made it easy to defend.
The opening is only 90 centimeters wide. It is too small for carts. Only one person can pass through at a time. This design differs greatly from other gates in the Mur. Hans Zumstein studied these other gates nearly a century later. He described the Porte Koeberlé as a postern.
Consider how this narrow gate was used. Positioned on the western slope, it faces the forest and the Vosges. It likely served for men carrying water. The Badstub stream flows abundantly below. Other smaller springs nearby are less reliable in summer.
Imagine the gate once had a monolith lintel. This single stone covered the entrance. Today, the lintel lies broken outside the gate. It measures 2.10 meters long. The stone has a U-shaped groove and two holes. A single wooden panel would close the gate. Two posts inserted into the lintel’s holes secured it.
The wooden panel rested directly on the Mur Païen’s sides. On the eastern side, the rock was hollowed out. On the western side, a vertical jamb was installed. It featured a groove and a locking system. A transverse beam provided security.
Alfred Touchemolin and Charles Spindler both drew the Porte Koeberlé. Touchemolin included a pipe-smoking man with a hat in his drawing. Both artists viewed the gate from outside the Mur Païen.
Even today, surprises await those who explore the Mur Païen. Venture off the beaten path. Look under the ferns and blueberry bushes. Near the Porte Koeberlé, you can discover wonders.
Let’s explore one of the quarries. It provided the blocks for the Mur. Robert Forrer published a map of these quarries in 1898. Quarry C5 features rocks with well-defined cuts. A superb cupule is also present. The blocks appear ready for removal. The site seems frozen in time. Did the workers simply pause and never return?
Why was a small stone inserted between two large blocks on the Mur’s eastern side? The Mur Païen holds many mysteries.
The Porte Koeberlé is more than just an entrance. It is a portal to the past. It invites us to imagine the lives and challenges of those who walked here long ago.