Hardenburg, Medieval castle ruin in Bad Dürkheim, Germany
The Hardenburg castle ruins extend across a hilltop, featuring residential buildings, great halls, and a western fortress with Renaissance garden remnants.
Established in 1205, the Counts of Leiningen transformed this medieval stronghold into a fortified palace during the 16th century expansion.
The permanent exhibition at the information center displays archaeological discoveries from the 16th and 17th centuries, including everyday objects from castle life.
The castle opens Thursday through Sunday from March to October, with reduced weekend hours during winter months and admission details at the entrance.
The castle ruins maintain their original defensive features, including the restored gate rotunda that visitors can explore while walking through the grounds.
Location: Bad Dürkheim
Inception: 1205
GPS coordinates: 49.46221,8.12094
Latest update: May 11, 2025 08:36
Rhineland-Palatinate preserves centuries of European fortification architecture across a region shaped by river valleys and forested highlands. Medieval castles like Eltz Castle rise above the Moselle loop at Bremm, while Pfalzgrafenstein Castle sits on a Rhine island at Kaub, where it once controlled river traffic. Roman foundations lie beneath later structures such as Limburg Monastery near Bad Dürkheim, and Romanesque abbeys like Maria Laach demonstrate monastic design from the 11th century. The landscape ranges from the Teufelsfels rock formation in the Hunsrück to the ruins of Hardenburg, among the largest fortress complexes in the state. From the Rhine Valley with Stolzenfels Castle and the Loreley to the Palatinate fortresses of Hambach and Trifels, these sites document the region's strategic importance. Pyrmont Castle stands beside a waterfall near Roes, while the ruins of Frankenstein Castle near Kaiserslautern show medieval defensive works. Natural formations like the Kaltwasser Geysir at Andernach and the Geierlay Suspension Bridge at Mörsdorf complement the historical structures, providing access to the geological features between the Rhine, Moselle and Nahe rivers.
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Giant Cask
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Kriemhildenstuhl
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Bismarck Tower
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Heidenmauer
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Teufelsstein
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Kehrdichannichts Lodge
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Bad Dürkheim lift
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Murrmirnichtviel Lodge
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Ludwigskirche Bad Dürkheim
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Schlosskirche Bad Dürkheim
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Bad Dürkheim station
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Flaggenturm
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Schloss Dürkheim
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Burg Schlosseck
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Palatinate Museum of Natural History
2.1 km
Klosterkirche Seebach
2.9 km
Fernmeldeturm Weilerskopf
3.2 km
Nonnenfels
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Kurhaus (Bad Dürkheim)
3.4 km
Dürkheimer Haus
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Zeppelin-Tower
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Hofruine Weilach
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Peterskopf
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Weilerskopf
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Burgkirche Bad Dürkheim
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Ebers-Berg
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Haardtrand - Am Schlammberg
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