Allenbach on the 'Gem Road'

Allenbach is the last town in the Idarbach creek valley before the road climbs up to the Idarwald main ridge towards Morbach on the other side of the ridge. Here you reach the western-most end of the "German Gem Road". This "Gem Road" connects the world-renowned jewelry center Idar-Oberstein with many small villages where small cutting shops, powered by the streams of Hunsrück, worked precious stones and brought considerable prosperity. The castle and village of Allenbach were the property of the powerful Counts of Sponheim from the lower Nahe Valley, who were closely connected to the Salic imperial family. During the 11th and 12th Centuries, the Counts of Sponheim sought, in the course of their territorial expansion, to solidify the boundary to the west on their lands bordering that of the Electors of Trier by systematically constructing castles. Allenbach Castle (documented for the first time in the year 1265) was, together with the castle in Herrstein, probably already standing in the 12th Century and served the exercise of the Sponheim bailiffship over the seignories (feudal lordships) of Birkenfeld/Idarwald. The division of the Sponheim estate among two rivalling heirs between 1223 and 1230 moved Allenbach to the "back county". Nothing of the original castle remains. In the year 1528 another was built in its place in the Late Gothic and Renaissance style. This after the medieval main tower and attached structure had been dismantled. Today's Allenbach Castle, along with its prominent ashlar corners, possesses a striking, hexagonial stair-tower in the middle of the main facade. Around the turn of the century, however, the main section of the Late Gothic half-timbering was replaced, which led to the damage of few of the original shapes. This however has not detracted from the attractiveness of this unique chateau.

Allenbach lies in the climatically protected valley between Idarwald, Hochwald and Wildenburg ridges and is an ideal starting point for extended walks or hikes through the vast stretches of pristine nature of the surrounding forests. For example, hike over the crest of Wildenburg ridge to Ringskopf, with the Celtic refuge from 200 B.C. (Latène Era), and from there continue on to Kirschweiler Fortress and Silberich mountain. Or from Ringskopf go over the ridge down to small forest road "Struthchaussee" with a restored Gallic-Roman burial mound in the forested area "Kipp" above Siesbach, and return by way of the nature preserve Hüttgeswasen —perhaps in combination with a side trip to the medieval pilgrimage church Heiligenbösch, which was built in the 12th and 13th centuries on the ruins of a Roman country villa. And naturally on to Erbeskopf mountain, with its splendid view over the Hochwald and Idarwald mountain ranges —a special experience in any weather and at any time of year. Another hike worth taking leads past Wirschweiler and over the Sensweiler Heights (734 m) down to the moorlands near the town of Morbach, with their unique flora and fauna. These wetlands have formed in undrained depressions of the mountain slopes and are fed by an abundant supply of spring water from the Idarwald heights ("Hangbrüche").