Waldeck Castle Ruins

Kemnath, Germany

Waldeck Castle was first mentioned in 1124. It was owned by the Landgraves of Leuchtenberg, who sold the castle in 1283 to Duke Ludwig of Bavaria. In the Spanish War of Succession, the castle was besieged by imperial troops , taken in October 1704 and demolished by order of Emperor Joseph I. Although the castle was rebuilt, it was burned down in 1794 and since then has been ruined. Since 1982, the ruins have been excavated and restored.

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Address

Unnamed Road, Kemnath, Germany
See all sites in Kemnath

Details

Founded: 12th century
Category: Castles and fortifications in Germany
Historical period: Salian Dynasty (Germany)

Rating

4.8/5 (based on Google user reviews)

User Reviews

Patrick Shrier (15 months ago)
A well-preserved late medieval castle. It is well signposted in English, German, and Czech. Parking is nearby and there is good signage to guide you around the site and explain what you are looking at, plus it is free to visit.
Philip Smith (2 years ago)
Great way to spend a couple hours walking and exploring history. Easy to find a little elevated but a fairly easy walk. Bring water and snacks though. There is a portajohn/water closet at the top - kind of behind and inside the building next to the gazebo. Beautiful views from the top!
Ashley Crouse (3 years ago)
Beautiful! Easy hike even if you have kids. It was so peaceful and almost no one there so you could actually enjoy the scenery. Definitely a great day trip!
Laura Rose (4 years ago)
Beautiful views but I think I will be back in the spring/summer as I think would be more stunning with blue skies and clouds. We went in a cold winter day. My kids enjoyed exploring the grounds.
Brian Parker (4 years ago)
Awesome 900 yr old castle fortress ruins atop a volcanic peak that is accessible and is chock full of informational signs in multiple languages (is an example for others, in fact). Ample parking. Path someone rocky on top. Spectacular views. You can tell that this is the pride-n-joy of the nearby little town at its base. Worth a visit.
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