Lichtenberg Castle, Medieval castle in Thallichtenberg, Germany.

Lichtenberg Castle is a spur castle ruin near Thallichtenberg in Rhineland-Palatinate, stretching 425 metres along a hill spur. It grew from two separate forts: the upper castle with a square bergfried and oval ring wall, and the lower castle 130 metres west with a gatehouse whose upper floor holds the original chapel. A shared ring wall joined them around 1400.

Lichtenberg Castle was first mentioned in 1214, when the Counts of Veldenz were accused of building it unlawfully on land belonging to the Benedictine abbey of St. Remigius in Reims. It stayed with the Veldenz family until 1444, then passed to the Dukes of Palatinate-Zweibrücken. A major fire on 26 October 1799 left it a ruin; only the castle chapel and the Landschreiberei survived.

The castle's name comes from the Lichtenberg hill spur; the counts of Veldenz held it until 1444, when it passed to the Dukes of Palatinate-Zweibrücken. In 1529 the reformers Zwingli, Oekolampad, Bucer and Sturm stayed here as guests while travelling to the Marburg Colloquy. Today the tithe barn houses the Musikantenland Museum, devoted to the region's travelling musicians.

Access to the site involves uneven ground and steep sections, so wear sturdy footwear and allow time for slow-paced exploration. Those with mobility challenges will find certain areas difficult to navigate.

The site offers a rare chance to read medieval construction phases directly in the surviving walls without much guesswork. Visitors can observe how building methods and materials changed from one era to another simply by looking at the stonework.