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.

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Photo from Flickr, copyright Klearchos Kapoutsis

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The Beckov castle stands on a steep 50 m tall rock in the village Beckov. The dominance of the rock and impression of invincibility it gaves, challenged our ancestors to make use of these assets. The result is a remarkable harmony between the natural setting and architecture.

The castle first mentioned in 1200 was originally owned by the King and later, at the end of the 13th century it fell in hands of Matúš Èák. Its owners alternated - at the end of the 14th century the family of Stibor of Stiborice bought it.

The next owners, the Bánffys who adapted the Gothic castle to the Renaissance residence, improved its fortifications preventing the Turks from conquering it at the end of the 16th century. When Bánffys died out, the castle was owned by several noble families. It fell in decay after fire in 1729.

The history of the castle is the subject of different legends.

Baldenau Castle

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