Wildenburg mountain near Kempfeld

On the top of Wildenburg Mountain (Wildenburger Kopf), one of the highest peaks of Wildenburg Ridge at 675 m, stood an important Celtic refuge with a double ring wall during the Latène Age (500 to 20 BC). Together with the grounds further west near Otzenhausen and on Ringskopf mountain, as well as the "Altburg" fortress further east near Bundenbach, this formed an extensive system for defense and protection by the Celtic tribe of Treverians. The key strategic importance of Wildenburg for those times becomes clear when you stand on the platform of the observation tower and enjoy the sweeping panoramic views —an extremely rewarding outing at any time of year and in any weather. To the north you can see the Eifel region and to the Ardennes, to the east the Taunus region, and in the southeast you recognize the prominent massif of Donnersberg mountain. At 687m, Donnersberg is the highest point of the Nordpfalz Region, on whose summit plateau rests the third largest Celtic "oppidum" of central Europe, with an 8.5km long system of ring walls and an enclosed area of 240 hectares. By contrast, with an interior area of 6 hectares, the dimensions of the Wildenburg refuge (with the largest dimensions 300 m by 220 m) were quite modest, yet for the Hunsrück region it represented a characteristic size for Celtic castles. In fact, the economic and social system of the Celts of the Latène Age developed into an early urban form of society due to the prosperous economy; the so-called Oppida Civilization. Characteristic of this civilization at the time of Caesar was a form of settlement which primarily consisted of individual farmsteads (Latin: aedificia), unfortified villages (Latin: vici), and fortified towns (Latin: oppida).

After Ceasar conquered the Galls (58-51 BC) and subjugated the Celtic tribe of Treverians, a Roman mountain temple arose on the top of Wildenburg. It is unclear whether the Celtic castle was still being used at the time of the Roman conquest. Around the year 350 AD a Late Roman fortification was constructed on Wildenburg for a short time. Wildenburg gets its name from the Wildgrave Friedrich von Kyrburg from Kirn on the Nahe River, nobleman of the status of count, who, in the year 1328, built a small castle on an exposed spur on the top of Wildenburg Mountain. In the process, a substantial part of the Celtic ring walls were used, and thereby destroyed, as a stone quarry. Due to its exposed position, the only easy approach to the castle was on the heights of the mountain ridge, so that two man-made moats were enough to secure it, hewn into the rock at a 10 m distance to each other and still visible today. With these moats, a wooden bridge was the only way to reach the castle, which was burned down by Lorraine troops in the year 1651. Later it was partially reconstructed, and in the year 1660 the lower part of the castle served the bailiwick of Wildenburg as administrative seat until the county was abolished in the year 1792.

Today a 22 m high observation tower, which was erected by the Hunsrück Society (association for the advancement of cultural heritage), stands on the rocky spur on top of Wildenburg mountain. At the foot of the castle hill, on the medieval foundation wall of the castle's lower part, a rustic-style restaurant has arisen. An "historic" learning trail leads through the more than three thousand years of human history, which is all around. In addition, a newly established "forest adventure trail" will enthrall adults and children alike. This 3.5 km long circular path through the woods around Wildenburg allows you to see in reality how a forest rejuvenates naturally, which characteristics can be used to identify trees, where the wild animals are, how people used to make charcoal, and many more interesting facts.