Madenburg Castle

At the top of the Rothenberg above Eschbach stands the Madenburg. With a length of 180 meters and a width of 50 meters, it is the largest castle complex in the Southern Palatinate and one of the largest castle complexes in the Palatinate.

The castle complex was probably built at the end of the 11th century as a royal castle to protect the lands belonging to the complex and to control the Kaiserbach Valley. It thus originates from a similar era as the nearby imperial castle of Trifels. As "Parthenopolis" (Virgin Castle or Mary Castle), the castle was first mentioned in 1076 in the "Bertholdi Annales." The castle was probably already at that time in the possession of the Diocese of Speyer, whose patroness was Mary. This likely led to the later name Madenburg, meaning "Castle of the Virgin Mary," which was first documented in 1176.

In the following centuries, the castle had various owners, such as the Leiningers, Sickingers, or Fleckensteiners, until it was finally purchased in 1516 by Bishop Georg of Speyer and the Count Palatine of the Rhine along with the associated villages of Eschbach, Ranschbach, Arzheim, Waldhambach, and Waldrohrbach. From then on, Madenburg became, alongside the "Kestenburg" (Hambach Castle), the bishop's secondary residence and administrative seat of the Madenburg office.

During the Peasants' War in 1525, Madenburg was looted and burned down. In the following years, the castle was rebuilt and partially expanded under the Speyer bishops. During the Thirty Years' War (1618-1648), the castle was captured in rapid succession and occupied by Spanish, Austrian, Swedish, and French troops until it once again came into the possession of the Bishop of Speyer in 1648.

In 1680, French King Louis XIV asserted claims on the property of the Diocese of Speyer, including Madenburg. A French garrison was stationed at the castle. The troops were withdrawn in 1689, and the castle was blown up during the War of the Palatine Succession.

When the left bank of the Rhine and present-day Palatinate were occupied by French troops during the French Revolutionary Wars in the 1790s, eventually becoming part of France, this also marked the end of the Madenburg office. The castle became French national property and was auctioned off to three citizens of Landau in 1800.

In the following years, the castle frequently changed ownership due to sales and auctions until 1826 when 38 citizens of Eschbach acquired Madenburg along with the castle hill.

The Palatinate had, after the Wars of Liberation and the Congress of Vienna (1815), temporarily become part of the Kingdom of Bavaria and had been governed by King Ludwig I since 1825. After the relationship between the Palatinate and Bavaria was severely strained following the Hambach Festival in 1832, the citizens of Eschbach offered Crown Prince Maximilian the Madenburg as a reconciliation and wedding gift in 1842. However, he declined and chose Hambach Castle as his summer residence.

In the 1840s, Madenburg gained notoriety beyond the region due to two special events: the "Eschbach Landslide" in 1843 (see "Rutschbrunnen") and a demonstration in 1848 with the talented regenerator and well-known representative of the Frankfurt Paulskirche, Robert Blum.

In 1870, the Madenburg Association was finally founded, which in the following years acquired most of the forest and castle rights. The association has undertaken various restoration measures, including the recent reconstruction of the historic watermill wheel.

After extensive renovation work, Madenburg today presents an impressive image of its former glory. A permanent exhibition at the castle shows the history of its creation. One of the towers is accessible and offers not only a magnificent view over the sea of vines and the Rhine plain but also over the Palatinate Forest and the Wasgau. The Madenburg Tavern provides typical Palatinate dishes and drinks.

Accessible: on foot from Eschbach or from the halfway point at the Madenburg hiking parking lot.

Madenburg belongs to the cultural monuments of the locality.

Opening times

May - October:
Wednesday - Sunday: 11.30 am - 7.00 pm
Monday & Tuesday day off

November - April:
Wednesday - Sunday: 11.30 am - 5.00 pm
Monday, Tuesday & Thursday closed

The castle complex can only be visited during the opening hours of the Madenburgschänke. The entire castle complex is closed on rest days.

If a public holiday falls on a rest day, the Madenburg is open. The day of rest is then postponed to the following day.
Depending on the weather, opening hours may also change.

Current changes to the opening hours can be found on the Madenburg website: www.madenburg-pfalz.de.