District

Hardenburg

Hardenburg lies deep in the wooded Isenach valley and takes its name from the mighty castle ruin towering high above. The former fortress of the Counts of Leiningen ranks among the largest castle ruins in the Palatinate and impresses with massive bastions, casemates and Renaissance buildings that can be explored on guided tours and in the museum. Dense mixed forests surround the ruin, with the babbling Isenach stream flowing down the valley toward Bad Dürkheim. Well-marked hiking trails start right at the district and lead deep into the Palatinate Forest, for instance to the Drachenfels or over to Frankeneck. After the tour, inns invite you to enjoy Palatinate specialties and a glass of Riesling. With castle romance, forest air and brook-side idyll, Hardenburg is a rewarding destination for families, hikers and history lovers.