The reconstructed Celtic 'Altburg' near Bundenbach

The Celtic Altburg Fortress was constructed around the year 300 BC. It was populated until the time of the Gallic Wars (58-50 BC), which ended with the defeat of the combined Celtic tribes and the Roman conquest of all of Gaul, including Hunsr»ck. Altburg is a typical Celtic fortress from the Late Latène Age, lying upon an approximately 20,000 m² rocky peak high above the deeply cut Hahnenbach creek, whose waters make a tight bend here. A fortified wall with a trench in front protected the actual castle and the houses surrounding it. Altburg served as a small center and place of trade for the farming communities in the area. This is supported by the large number of archaeological finds here, beneath which were also found Etruscan wine amphorae from the Mediterranean region.

During the archaeological excavations carried out between 1971-1975 almost the entire interior of Altburg was investigated right down to the bedrock. In the process, extremely detailed traces of the settlement were found. About 3,600 post holes, palisades, fence trenches, as well as a cellar hewn in the rock, gave in the end, quite detailed information about the grounds, which had been rebuilt several times. Based on these traces a (small) part of the original layout has been reconstructed as the focus of an open-air museum.

Photo: At regular intervals the "Celtic Festival" takes place on the Altburg, where "hobby Celts" from all over the world meet in traditional costumes and with tools and weapons that are as true to the original as possible. There are also market stalls and show booths of all kinds that attract many visitors — a real folk festival.