Lemberg Castle

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

Lemberg Castle was probably built around 1200 by Henry I, Count of Zweibrücken, after this site had been granted to him by the Hornbach Abbey in 1198. The castle itself however was only first mentioned in 1230. By 1333 the castle had gone to the Counts of Zweibrücken-Bitsch, who, between 1535 and 1541 resided here and remodeled the medieval castle into a Renaissance schloss.

After the then Count of Zweibrücken-Bitsch died in 1570 an inheritance dispute broke out. This was ended by the liege lord of the castle; the Duke of Lorraine, Charles III, by occupying the castle with his troops in 1572.

During the Thirty Years' War, Lemberg Castle was taken and plundered, first in 1634, then again in 1635. In 1636 it was again taken and this time razed. Afterwards it was rebuilt in a makeshift fashion. The end of the castle finally came during the Nine Years' War, when it was probably slighted by French troops in 1689. It was never rebuilt.

The ruins of the castle were used as a quarry by the locals during later centuries. At present not much remains but several low walls and foundations.

At present Lemberg Castle can freely be visited. Not an interesting site.

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