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The ruins of Castle Balduinseck
One walk worth taking leads from Kastellaun over the village of Bell and along
Wohnroth Stream to the ruins of Castle Balduinseck, which lies hidden in a
deeply cut, narrow valley. This mighty edifice was erected in the year 1325
by Archbishop Balduin of Trier as a border defence against the County of Sponheim.
Rauschenburg Castle, (dated 1332) a few kilometres further north near
Mermuth above the Ehrbachklamm Gorge, had a similar function.
Unlike most castles in the region, Balduinseck was never destroyed by enemy
troops, but rather became dilapidated over time, after which it no longer
had any function and was abandoned. Consequently, it is still possible for
visitors to understand something about the home comforts of that time. In
fact, the palace, with lateral lengths of 22 and 14 meters, has remarkable
proportions, with several floors that were conveniently reached by a spiral
staircase. Smoothly plastered walls, as well as fireplaces on all floors,
provided a comfortable ambiance in the boudoirs. On the other hand, the mighty
outer walls also allowed for a strong defence. Another rewarding excursion
leads into the village of Neuerkirch, which is on the road to
Simmern.
The old village centre here has been lovingly restored through a renovation
program. The museum of culture very graphically displays the traditional Hunsrück
crafts along with their tools. Among others, you can see a baker, beekeeper,
carpenter, roofer, basket maker, blacksmith, and cobbler. Also on display
are the typical agricultural implements of the region, allowing you to gain
an insight into the rural style of life.
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Castle ruin Balduinseck near Kastellaun in the Soonwald. The castle was built in 1325
by Archbishop Balduin von Trier as a border fortress against the county of Sponheim.
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