Heidenlöcher am Kirchberg

The Heidenlöcher are the ruins of a hilltop castle near the small Palatinate town of Deidesheim in Rhineland-Palatinate. The remains point to a refuge castle from Carolingian, possibly also from Ottonian times.

Very impressive, ancient ruins that invite you to play and be amazed. Attention: Archaeological finds here must be reported!

The potholes lie on the 347 m high Martensberg. They are surrounded by a rampart. Inside the wall you will find the remains of many dwellings. Presumably, this plant is the remains of a refuge from the inhabitants of the Rhine plain to flee from the predatory Normans and Huns. It was probably built in the 9th-10th. Century.

In the 1820s, so-called Heimatfreunde brought the Fliehburg into the consciousness of a wider public for the first time. The excavation was undertaken in 1907/08 under the direction of Friedrich Sprater of the Historical Museum of the Palatinate (Speyer). Sprater still believed that it was a settlement from the Celtic period, as evidenced by the first part of the name, which classifies the Celts as heathens. The complex was marked by the Ritterstein 260 at the beginning of the 20th century.

Recent research has shown that the plant is more than a thousand years younger. The second part of the name comes from the depressions that the collapsed buildings had left in the forest floor. According to current knowledge, it is not certain that the facility has ever been used in accordance with its purpose; at least it is believed that the heathen holes were never permanently inhabited. Although the building remains on a pronounced interior development, but it lacks both regularly operated fireplaces and landfills.

Foundations of a historic fortification from the time of the late Carolingian or Ottonen.

The heath holes (ruin of a cave castle) are very worth seeing.

Interesting place where you can well take a break.

Adventurous for children and ancient ruins.

Very interesting and mysterious. It was probably a refugee settlement before the Normans.

The Heidenlöcher near Deidesheim: About 2.5 km northwest of Deidesheim are the so-called Heidenlöcher on the summit of the Kirchberg or Martenberg. They were built in the 9th and 10th centuries as a refuge to protect against the raids of the Normans or Hungarians. A 450 m long dry wall, interrupted by two gates, moves around an area on which the foundations of 65 houses of different sizes were found.

Old castle grounds from which only foundations are visible.

The Heidenlöcher are the remains of a fleeing castle

Potholes, 9th-10th c. for the protection of the population from the Normans, important cultural asset, must see ...

It looks kinda weird and you wonder how it used to be. Definitely worth seeing.

An interesting area, you can feel history here!

This complex has 2 gate systems, i. H. 2 ways to enter them. You can then walk on a dry stone rampart or within this rampart and see the remains of many stone houses.
Without KOMOOT: If you don't want to get lost, then it's best to follow the "Palatinate Wine Trail" hiking sign.

A special place

Always interesting to look at, you always discover something new. Exciting for children too!

The entire facility is very exciting. A look into early history.

Very interesting facility. Unfortunately, no information can be found on site. It should definitely be possible to set up 1-2 information boards there.

A truly beautiful place to stay and enjoy the tranquility.

Fortifications were built in the Palatinate as early as 900 AD. They should serve the population with household effects and cattle as escape or refuge castles in case of an imminent danger. They were mainly located on the edge of the mountains and covered a larger area with ramparts and moats. It was built at the instigation of the Carolingian or Ottonian kings, since the Rhine plain was threatened by Norman raids in the 9th century and Hungarian advances in the 10th century. Despite the advance of the Normans and Hungarians, excavations show that the refuge castles were not used at all or were only inhabited for a short time.
Source: DallAgnol, D. The medieval hilltop castles in the Palatinate Forest Nature Park biosphere reserve.

Remains of a historic settlement.

Very interesting. It's fun for children too. It's unbelievable what effort people had to put in for fear of people.