Balduinseck Castle is located in the valley on the L 203 between the towns of Buch and Mastershausen and is freely accessible. The hilltop castle was built in the 14th century by Elector Baldwin of Luxembourg as a stronghold against the Counts of Sponheim, who resided at Kastellaun Castle. When it was built, Baldwin seems to have been particularly inspired by the French donjon type.
The castle was never destroyed but fell into ruin from the 18th century. Comprehensive renovation was completed in 2014, making the site freely accessible again. The 18-meter-high, four-story walls of the residential tower are still well preserved today. Today, Balduinseck Castle is a special highlight for many hikers.
References: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.