Weissenburg

Weissenburg, also spelled Weißenburg, is a toponym used for several places with German linguistic roots, literally meaning “white fortress” or “white castle.” The name has been used for towns in present-day Germany and France and for historic territorial names.

Weißenburg in Bayern: a town in the district of Weißenburg-Gunzenhausen, in Bavaria, Germany. It lies in Middle Franconia, near the Altmühl river and the Franconian Jura. The town has a historic center with preserved old houses and medieval streets; nearby Roman remains indicate Biriciana, a fort from the Roman era. It serves as an administrative and cultural center of the surrounding region.

In Alsace, the town of Wissembourg in the Bas-Rhin department was historically known in German as Weißenburg. It is located near the border with Germany and has a long, continuous urban history dating to late antique and medieval times. The German exonym is retained in historical texts and during periods of German rule in Alsace-Lorraine. The town is noted for its historic architecture and proximity to the Palatinate region.

Etymology: The name combines Old High German words for “white” and “fortress,” reflecting fortifications or castle remains that early settlers associated with the site.