Hof Iben

Hof Iben is a water castle in the Appelbach valley that retains original stone walls and fortified structures surrounded by farm buildings. The complex includes a Gothic-style chapel and several massive stone houses that once formed the residential quarters and grain storage areas.

The site was founded around 1240 as a Templar commandery and served the order until 1312. After Pope Clement V dissolved the religious military order, the estate passed to other owners and continued as a working farm and estate.

The chapel displays early Gothic features that visitors notice upon entering, particularly in the choir with its characteristic arches and stone windows. The religious space conveys the sense of a medieval place of worship to this day, even though the surrounding farm buildings reflect their agricultural use.

The location sits in a quiet valley and is easily reached on foot, with clear paths that allow good views of the grounds. Visitors should note that the chapel is under state administration while the remaining buildings are privately owned and may not be accessible everywhere.

The name Iben refers to Ibenium, a crusader castle in the Holy Land that Saladin captured and destroyed in the late 1180s. This connection reveals how the place was linked to the great Crusade movements of the medieval period.

Location: Rhineland-Palatinate

GPS coordinates: 49.77320,7.92533

Latest update: December 8, 2025 21:01