Top 20 Castles around Merzalben

A good overview of Altdahn, the peace that the path radiates in your mind... what else do you need?

In 1985/1986 the entire castle was extensively renovated. In the course of this, the road at the back of the castle was also set up.

View of the next major goal when walking the Hahnfels path: the castles of Altendahn

Tanstein Castle stretches across the two westernmost castle rocks in the castle group. Both rocks used to be connected by a bridge. Today there are modern parapet walls on the rocks, which were placed arbitrarily during restoration work and do not convey any impression of the former castle buildings. The west rock was apparently built with tower-like buildings leaning against the rock. Evidence of this is given by beam holes and workings in the rock, as well as a large cistern, in which water was collected from the roofs. From this point you have a great view of the facility.

Beautiful castle ruins with magnificent views of the area. Attention, if you go down the north tower, you end up in a dead end. You then have to go back upstairs to get out ;-)

In the middle of the Palatinate Forest Nature Park, high up on a mountain spur, lies the imposing and landscape-defining ruins of Falkenburg. It is considered one of the oldest castle complexes in the Palatinate. It was probably founded in the middle of the 12th century. The castle (castrum Frankenstein) was first mentioned in writing on the occasion of the Leiningen division in 1237. It remained in the sole possession of the Leiningen counts until after the middle of the 14th century, when the Archbishops of Trier received half of the castle and appointed their own officials. Mortgages and divisions within the Leiningen counts made ownership increasingly difficult over the next few centuries, and various truce agreements were concluded that regulated life in the castle. The last owners in the 18th century were the Electors of the Palatinate, the Lords of Wallbrunn, the Lords of Sickingen and the Counts of Leiningen. Frankenstein Castle consists of an upper castle on the topmost rock and a lower castle with a moat and moat. The oldest part is the keep, which probably dates from the 12th century. It consists of humped ashlar masonry typical of that time. In 1975 it was built up to its current height. Reinforced with a shield wall opposite, it protected the upper castle from possible attacks. Large, multi-storey residential buildings were built between the end of the 13th and the beginning of the 14th century. The ruined walls of the lower castle, which were still there in the 1960s, were supplemented by the two upper floors in 1974/75. The second residential building to the north-east probably dates from the first half of the 13th century. Above a cellar there were five floors that were formerly covered with beams. Inside the palace, window niches with benches and the remains of a mighty fireplace bear witness to the interior design of this part of the castle. The chapel wing was located on another rocky outcrop (to the north). The chapel bay window is clearly visible from the outside. It is exceptionally beautifully designed with, among other things, six pointed consoles. Below the castle ruins there is a railway tunnel with an entrance portal dating from the 19th century. Source: https://www.burgenlandschaft-pfalz.de/de/weitere-monumente/burgruine-falkenburg/geschichte/

The 399 meter high Kahlenberg lies between Schindhardt and Erfweiler. In good weather, impressive views of the Palatinate Forest/Northern Vosges biosphere reserve. Source: https://www.tourenplaner-rheinland-pfalz.de/de/punkt/felsen/kahlenberg/15848473/

Dahn has no skyscrapers. The building in the background is the former hospital, unfortunately rationalized away; A senior citizens' home has been housed there for several years.