Like most of the castles in the Rhineland-Palatinate, Landeck Castle was built in approximately 1200. It served probably the function of protecting the nearby Klingenmünster monastery. The first documental reference to Landeck Castle was made in 1237.
In the period around 1500 there were castle administrators from the Kurpfalz, the bishop of Speyer and the counts of Zweibrücken. At the end of the 15th century extensive work was done at Landeck Castle. During the Peasants’ War in 1525 it was damaged, but obviously quickly repaired.
In 1570 there was again a change in ownership. After the dying out of the Zweibrücken-Bitch lineage their share of the castle went to the Kurpfalz. It was not until 1709 that the Electors succeded in owning the entire property of Landeck Castle, when the Speyer bishopric gave up the remaining quarter by exchange. The Kurpfalz remained the only owner until the French Revolution. In the 1960’s the castle was extensively restored.
References:Trenčín Castle is relatively large renovated castle, towering on a steep limestone cliff directly above the city of Trenčín. It is a dominant feature not only of Trenčín, but also of the entire Považie region. The castle is a national monument.
History of the castle cliff dates back to the Roman Empire, what is proved by the inscription on the castle cliff proclaiming the victory of Roman legion against Germans in the year 179.
Today’s castle was probably built on the hill-fort. The first proven building on the hill was the Great Moravian rotunda from the 9th century and later there was a stone residential tower, which served to protect the Kingdom of Hungary and the western border. In the late 13th century the castle became a property of Palatine Matúš Csák, who became Mr. of Váh and Tatras.
Matúš Csák of Trenčín built a tower, still known as Matthew’s, which is a dominant determinant of the whole building.