Neukastel Castle

Neukastel Castle, sometimes also called Neukastell or Nicastel, is the remnant of a Palatine hill castle from the 12th century above the village of Leinsweiler in the district of Südliche Weinstraße in Rhineland-Palatinate. The origin of the castle's name is unknown.

Since the castle was destroyed in the 17th century, it has been a ruin. It consists of an upper castle with a viewing platform on a sandstone rock and a lower castle with a rock cave and a neck ditch. Only a few wall remnants remain.

Middle Ages

In 1123, the castle, presumably built by the Salian dynasty, was first mentioned in a document in connection with Heinrich von Neukastel.

In 1246, the castle was handed over to King Konrad IV, along with the Imperial Regalia at the neighboring Trifels Castle, by Isengard, the wife of the Imperial Seneschal Philipp I von Falkenstein. Since then, it served as an imperial castle to protect Trifels. In 1252 or 1253, Ludwig von Schüpf, who had been Landvogt in Speyergau since 1232, named himself after the castle.

In 1307, Nikolaus von Speyer received the castle as a fief. In 1309, King Heinrich VII handed over the castle and the Landvogtei in Speyergau to Count Georg I von Veldenz. As a condition, he had to invest 1200 pounds Heller from the Jewish tax in Landau and from the customs in Germersheim into Trifels and Neukastel castles.

In 1330, Emperor Ludwig the Bavarian pledged the castle, along with numerous other properties, for 6000 marks of silver to the Palatine Counts Rudolf II and Ruprecht I. In 1353, the castle was divided as an imperial fief within the Palatine family and sub-pledged.

During the division of the Palatine administrative seat in 1410, the castle was finally assigned to Duke Stephan, the founder of the Palatinate-Zweibrücken line.

Modern Era

During the Peasants' War in 1525, Neukastell Castle was significantly damaged, but was partially rebuilt by the Dukes of Palatinate-Zweibrücken in the subsequent period. The castle was to be provided with a new rondel for cannons, but the construction project was not realized. In 1555, the Oberamt was moved from Neukastel Castle to Bergzabern Castle.

The castle also suffered considerable damage during the Thirty Years' War from 1618 to 1648. In 1689, it was finally destroyed by French troops in the War of the Palatine Succession.

In 1828, the Neukasteler Hof, a Maierhof located at the foot of the mountain, which was the former economic court of the castle and had also been destroyed in 1689, was rebuilt as an estate on the existing foundations. To this day, the Slevogthof Neukastel stands on this property.