Haut-Koenigsbourg stayed untouched and abandoned for more than 200 years, until 1865, when the ruins were bought by the nearby town of Sélestat. In 1871 Alsace became a part of Germany and the city of Sélestat offered the castle ruins to Kaiser Wilhelm II. The German Emperor decided to proceed with the complete restoration of the castle as he wanted to mark symbolically his power over Alsace. He hired a German architect and archaeologist Bodo Ebhardt who rebuilt the castle after eight years of devoted work and thorough exploration of real life led in the16th century.