Burgruine Baldenau

Morbach, Germany, Germany

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Burgruine Baldenau near Morbach in Germany's Hunsrück region, Rhineland-Palatinate, stands as the area's only moated castle ruin, beautifully positioned in the upper Dhron valley between Hundheim and Hinzerath amid scenic hiking trails.

Built around 1315-1324 by Elector and Archbishop Balduin of Luxembourg to secure borders against the County of Sponheim and possibly serve as a hunting lodge, it featured a thick ring wall, high round tower with an elevated entrance, drawbridge over a 12-meter-wide moat, and multi-story buildings until Swedish forces razed it in the Thirty Years' War, followed by final destruction in 1689 by French troops under General Melac.

Restored and secured in the 1980s with its moat refilled, the site now draws hikers on paths like the Saar-Hunsrück-Steig's LandZeitTour dream loop, offering free access, info boards, and photogenic views of its medieval remnants.