Nanstein Castle
Native name German: Burg Nanstein
Remains of Nanstein Castle
Location	Burgweg 1 66849 Landstuhl, Germany
Coordinates	49°24′35.4″N 7°34′24.9″E / 49.409833°N 7.573583°E / 49.409833; 7.573583
Built	c. 1152
Built for	Frederick I of Germany
Current use	Ruin, tourist attraction, festival hall, music venue, open-air theater, restaurant
Architectural style(s)	Gothic, renaissance, other
Governing body	Verbandsgemeinde Landstuhl
Owner	Government of Rhineland-Palatinate
Website	Nanstein Castle
Location of Nanstein Castle in Germany

Nanstein Castle (German: Burg Nanstein) is a ruined medieval castle above the town of Landstuhl in Germany, which has been partially reconstructed. The red sandstone rock castle dates from the 12th century and was once owned by Franz von Sickingen, who was mortally wounded during a siege of the castle in 1523.

History

Frederick I of Germany had Nanstein Castle built about 1152. The medieval hill (spur) castle, situated above a 49 feet (15 m) high sandstone ledge, was originally part of the Hohenstaufen defenses guarding the imperial lands in the south-western Palatinate.^[1]

Imperial Knight and Protestant reformer Franz von Sickingen modernized the castle in the 16th century and turned it into a citadel that was supposed to withstand the artillery of the age. In 1523 (during the so-called "Knights' Revolt"),^[1] the castle was besieged by the Archbishop of Trier, Palatine Elector Louis V, and Landgrave of Hesse. Sickingen fell mortally wounded during the siege.^[2]

Sickingen's sons received the partially destroyed castle back from Elector Louis V in 1542 (as a feudal tenure), and immediately rebuilt it in a Renaissance style. In 1668, the Elector Charles Louis captured the restored castle and had it partially destroyed.^[1] French troops destroyed other parts in 1689. In the following centuries several repairs were made, but it remains a castle ruin.^[2]