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:

maasberg.ch

User Reviews

Sean Karns (2 years 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 (4 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 (5 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 (7 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 (7 years ago)
Very cool to walk through the ruins and actually see a moat around a castle.

Featured Historic Landmarks, Sites & Buildings

Photo from Flickr, copyright Zvonimir Hrvoj

Historic Site of the week

Church of St Donatus

The Church of St Donatus name refers to Donatus of Zadar, who began construction on this church in the 9th century and ended it on the northeastern part of the Roman forum. It is the largest Pre-Romanesque building in Croatia.

The beginning of the building of the church was placed to the second half of the 8th century, and it is supposed to have been completed in the 9th century. The Zadar bishop and diplomat Donat (8th and 9th centuries) is credited with the building of the church. He led the representations of the Dalmatian cities to Constantinople and Charles the Great, which is why this church bears slight resemblance to Charlemagne's court chapels, especially the one in Aachen, and also to the Basilica of San Vitale in Ravenna. It belongs to the Pre-Romanesque architectural period.

The circular church, formerly domed, is 27 m high and is characterised by simplicity and technical primitivism.

Baldenau Castle

Address

Details

Rating

Interesting Sites Nearby

User Reviews

Featured Historic Landmarks, Sites & Buildings

Finest Norman castles in Italy

Exploring the History of Northern Poland

Discovering Slovenia's Historic Wonders

Historic Site of the week

Church of St Donatus