Burg Baldenau, Medieval castle ruins in Hundheim, Germany

Burg Baldenau is a ruined moated castle between Hundheim and Hinzerath, its wedge-shaped plan about 52 metres long and up to 20 metres wide. At the pointed southwestern end stands the round bergfried, 24 metres high, 10.5 metres in diameter with walls up to 3.2 metres thick. Opposite are the sparse remains of the main building, whose kitchen fireplace survives on the east side.

Archbishop Balduin of Trier began building the castle in 1315 to secure the Electorate of Trier's territory against the rival Counts of Sponheim. In 1332 Emperor Louis granted town rights for a settlement at Baldenau, but the town was never founded. The castle gave its name to the Trier district of Baldenau, which comprised fifteen surrounding villages. In the 15th century the castle and district were pledged to nobles, and in 1689 French troops under Louis XIV destroyed it for good.

The ruin served as a filming location for the first part of Edgar Reitz's Heimat trilogy, shot in 1981 and 1982; Reitz was born in Morbach. The castle gave its name to the Electoral Trier Amt of Baldenau, which comprised fifteen surrounding villages. Two Amtmen are recorded in the 15th century: Rulmann von Partenheim and Clas von Nattenheim.

This castle connects to several walking and cycling routes, including the LandZeitTour dream loop and the third stage of the Hunsrück cycle route. Visitors thus have flexible options for reaching and exploring the site.

Burg Baldenau is one of the few moated castles in the Hunsrück, not the only one. Its moat is fed by the upper reaches of the Dhron, and the ruin lies at 465 metres in a marshy high valley. A separate "Stumpfer Turm" above Hinzerath, on the former Roman road, served as an early-warning post.