Freudenburg Castle

Freudenburg Castle, locally known as Burg Freudenburg, lies in the village of the same name, in the Rhineland-Palatinate region in Germany.

Freudenburg Castle was built between 1330 and 1337 by John, King of Bohemia and Count of Luxembourg. The castle was called 'Freyding' at that time. As part of a castle protectorate between Trier and Luxembourg, it served to secure the road between the cities of Trier and Metz. Later the castle was sold to an uncle of John; Baldwin of Luxembourg, Archbishop-Elector of Trier.

During the 15th century the castle fell into disrepair until it was bought by the St. Maximin's Abbey in 1589. They had the castle restored. In a dispute between the abbey and the Archbishop-Elector of Trier; Philipp Christoph von Sötern, the troops of the Archbishop took the castle in 1646 and destroyed it. It was never rebuilt.

Freudenburg Castle was built at the end of a rocky spur. It was separated from the village by a broad dry moat cut out of the rock. Originally a wooden bridge would have given access to the castle from the village. The castle plan follows the outline of the spur, giving it a triangular ground plan. There would have been a circular keep at the end of the spur.

At present Freudenburg Castle can freely be visited. A nice castle ruin in a quiet village.

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