Klingenmünster

This map of the castle hanging near the entrance wall illustrates the different areas of the castle.

1. Bridge columns
2. Neck ditch
3. Outer defence
4. Bridge tower
5. Gateway
6. At the remparts
7. Castle wall
8. Outer wall
9. Toilet oriel
10. Sally gate
11. Gate
12. Castle's inner courtyard
13. Filter cistern
14. West living area
15. East living area
16. Donjon
17. Flanking tower

This is the view onto the castle when you are arriving. In the front you see the bridge and the small bridge tower (no. 4 on the castle's map) with the gate at its end. The mighty wall behind is the inner castle's wall (no. 7 on the castle's map), and the donjon is looming large to the right.

This is the castle's gate (no. 11 on the castle's map) you will pass after crossing the bridge and outer defence area (seen from inside the castle). There is a wooden carving above the gate showing a dragon slayer. Below is an old heraldic stone from Matthias von Rammung, who was Bishop of Speyer 1464-1478.

From the donjon you can clearly see the remaining parts of the former living areas with the west living area better to see on the lower right side of the picture.
You can climb up some steps (from the courtyard) and sit in the recessed window alcoves within the mighty walls while enjoying magnificent views of the surrounding hills and plains.

The biggest attraction on the castle are the views and they are best from the highest point, the donjon.

Inside the Burgfried or castle's donjon are some empty cabinets, maybe for future exhibitions. But a model of the castle can be seen already now. Unfortunately due to the then unfinished exhibition status, it was pretty dark inside. We needed a couple of minutes to adjust to the dim lighting.

Built about 1230 by the Baron von Leiningen Emich IV, the then owner of Burg Landeck. The worship of Saint Nicholas was adopted by the Leiningen family from Apulia. The Bishop Nicholas of Myra in Lycia enjoyed a high reputation in the 4th century in Greece.
Before 1618 settlement of the farmyard "Werschweiler Hof", owned by the Zisterzienser Order. Later the chapel became part of the convent in Klingenmünster.
The interior vaulted ceiling was renovated in1924.

This restaurant is run by Annemarie and Hans Bader, a local Klingenmünster couple. They serve very typical Palatinate dishes. It is all well spiced but not salty as in so many other German restaurants.
The Bader family also owns some wineyards, so the wine sold in the restaurant is purely homemade as well as all of the food. The cheapest glass of wine is a 0.25l Morio Muskat for just 1.80 € (!!), but my recommendation is the silver medal awarded Gewürztraminer.

Inside the Landeck Castle Ruins is a cheap inn or "Burgschänke". After walking up the hill to the castle it is very nice to have some refreshments, to sit outside and enjoy the views. They also serve some simple dishes like Flammkuchen.

Note: The page was originally created on Mar 18, 2008 for Virtualtourist.com. It contributed 2 tips and 9 photos to the Klingenmünster Travel guide, was Top Rated and ranked No.1 of the Top 5 Klingenmünster Writers. The site was closed down on Feb 27, 2017.

Note: The page was originally created on Mar 15, 2008 for Virtualtourist.com. It contributed 7 tips and 12 photos to the Ruine Landeck Travel guide, was Top Rated and ranked No.2 of the Top 5 Ruine Landeck Writers. The site was closed down on Feb 27, 2017.