Baldenau Castle

Morbach, Germany

Baldenau Castle was built by the Trier Elector and Archbishop Balduin of Luxemburg around the year 1320. Initially designed as a hunting lodge, it was later on, beginning in 1324, completed to a residential seat through the construction of additional buildings, stables, and barns. The principal Balduin who initiated the building and gave it his name, was born in 1285 as the youngest son of Count Henry VI. of Luxemburg.

The most impressive part of castle is the keep, 25m height and 10m width. The surrounding moat is 12m wide. During the Thirty Years' War (1618-1648), Baldenau Castle was seriously damaged by Swedish troops, but reconstructed throughout the years 1649-1654. However, only 35 years later, in 1689, the French army devastated the castle.

References:

Comments

Your name



Address

Morbach, Germany
See all sites in Morbach

Details

Founded: c. 1320
Category: Castles and fortifications in Germany
Historical period: Habsburg Dynasty (Germany)

Rating

4.6/5 (based on Google user reviews)

User Reviews

Sean Karns (22 months ago)
My maternal family is from Bischofsdhron and Hundheim, so I've spent countless visits at the castle. Sure it's fairly unremarkable as far as castles go, but it's in a wonderfully idyllic setting, not frequently visited by others. Enjoy a swim in the moat should you feel the desire!
JJ Cavins (3 years ago)
Walked here from Morbach. Cool spot if you’ve got nothing better to do. Tower is gated off unfortunately. Not a bad spot for a lazy afternoon. #contract2016
Julia Erz (4 years ago)
Very pretty ruins with a moat going around it. Unfortunately the bridge to get inside the castle is being repaired with a new bridge so access inside is not possible currently!
Cliff (6 years ago)
The "Water Castle", as it is called locally. It is a very nice, short walk from Morbach. It is an an AWFUL strategic location for a castle, complete with a moat. It is only here because a very wealthy Bishop decided to build it here to Mark the edge of his property. I wish we could walk up to the top of the tower. There is some information in English, more in German. There is other info outside the castle, near the walking path. Very nice place for younger kids to explore.
Ed Rutherford (6 years ago)
Very cool to walk through the ruins and actually see a moat around a castle.
Powered by Google

Featured Historic Landmarks, Sites & Buildings

Historic Site of the week

Jan Hus Memorial

The Jan Hus Memorial stands at one end of Old Town Square. The huge monument depicts victorious Hussite warriors and Protestants who were forced into exile 200 years after Hus, and a young mother who symbolises national rebirth. The monument was so large that the sculptor designed and built his own villa and studio where the work could be carried out. It was unveiled in 1915 to commemorate the 500th anniversary of Jan Hus' martyrdom. The memorial was designed by Ladislav Šaloun and paid for solely by public donations.

Born in 1369, Hus became an influential religious thinker, philosopher, and reformer in Prague. He was a key predecessor to the Protestant movement of the sixteenth century. In his works he criticized religious moral decay of the Catholic Church. Accordingly, the Czech patriot Hus believed that mass should be given in the vernacular, or local language, rather than in Latin. He was inspired by the teachings of John Wycliffe.