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Many members of the Kaiserslautern Military Community have found temporary or even permanent homes in one of the many villages or towns surrounding Kaiserslautern and in the heart of the Palatinate Forest.
Talk of the Town is a series highlighting the union communities within the County of Kaiserslautern, the City of Kaiserslautern and the Union Community of Winnweiler in neighboring Donnersberg County. The series aims to inform American service members and their families about the communities they’re joining during their time in the KMC. A Union Community is an administrative territorial community composed of a group of individual towns or villages. Each month we will feature a different community and provide facts about its history, heritage, and the local experiences it offers.
The next stop in our series leads us to the Union Community of Landstuhl, located just south of Ramstein Air Base, and invite you to discover interesting facts about your home away from home.
Communities
The union community is comprised of the individual towns of Bann, Hauptstuhl, Kindsbach, Krickenbach, Linden, Mittelbrunn, Oberarnbach, Queidersbach, Schopp, Stelzenberg and Trippstadt, as well as the City of Landstuhl.
During the course of a communal and administrative law reform, the union community was combined with former towns belonging to Kaiserslautern-Süd. It has been in its current form since Jul. 1, 2019, with the City of Landstuhl acting as the administrative center.
With a population of 28,000, about another 3,738 members of the Kaiserslautern Military Community (U.S. and NATO) reside in the union community.
The Mayor of the Union Community, Dr. Peter Degenhardt, has been in office since 2013 and would like to extend a warm welcome (see below).
Celts, a castle and a medical center
Early traces of a settlement date back to about 500 B.C. at the Heidenfels (heathen rock) and is attributed to a Celtic settlement. It is said to have been a holy site until the Roman times in the first century. The king’s court of Nannenstuhl was first mentioned in conjunction with the king’s court of Lutera around the year 850 as part of the Lorscher Imperial Urban (document). Around the year 1160 emperor Friedrich Barbarossa had Castle Nanstein built on a hill in the southern part of the town, first mentioned in a chronicle in 1253. The town “Landstuhl” was first documented as a city in an official certificate in 1326 and since 1995 it has officially held the title “Sickingenstadt Landstuhl,” in honor of the noble Sickingen family.
The Lords of Sickingen acquired responsibility in the late 15th century and their most famous member, Franz von Sickingen, transformed the castle into a fortress during his reign. While large parts were destroyed, some sections still tower above the city as the most prominent landmark.
Since 1953 Landstuhl has also been home to the Landstuhl Regional Medical Center, the largest U.S. medical center in Europe with a military housing area on the base as well.
Wanderlust, canyon hikes and a natural gas trail
There is plenty for outdoor fans to do and discover in and around Landstuhl. Various hiking trails lead to and from Castle Nanstein on long or short routes. Discover historical traces at Steinberg or take a relaxing stroll in the wild and romantic Karlstalschlucht (Karl’s valley canyon) near Trippstadt. An educational natural gas trail will inspire you to learn about natural resources and a walking trail from Queidersbach to Schweinstal lined with sculptures will lead you to the Picard quarry. Mountain bikers have nine trails to choose from and regular cyclists can discover the Palatinate Forest on a variety of trails.
The Cubo is a popular spot for wellness fans and offers a sauna with a spa area. The nature inspired sun and fun outdoor pool is ideal for children and is just adjacent. Nature lovers may also enjoy the Bärenlochweiher, a natural swimming lake in the forest, with a picnic area near Kindsbach.
Various sports clubs and associations offer a multitude of fitness activities for young and old. In addition to popular German soccer, other clubs offer table tennis, fishing or even events for tractor fans and meetings with working dogs.
Arts and culture
Performing arts events are held at the Stadthalle in Landstuhl with musicals, concerts and plays. The Kulturfabrik in Linden also offers a variety of concerts and the Artothek is renowned for its arts display, where pieces of art can be borrowed similar to a library.
Step back into the spectacular Middle Ages at Nanstein Castle at the “Burgspiele” during the summer or visit a humorous play in regional dialect at the “Pfälzer Komödie” in the Stadthalle. Amateur actors perform in plays in November and around Easter at the nature stage in the middle of the forest in Queidersbach on Falkenstein Castle.
Iron processing and a journey through time
The Eisenhütten Museum in Trippstadt provides a glimpse into the world of forest, water and the iron industry closely connected to Trippstadt and neighboring Karlstal’s history of iron processing. It is situated within the “Schmiede Huber” complex under historic protection and iron processing demonstrations and courses can be booked.
The museum Sickinger Höhe was opened on the occasion of Queiderbach’s 1000th year anniversary. It is situated in an old school house and city hall built in 1836. The museum is about 500 square meters and contains 4000 artefacts on display. Visitors can step back in time from the earliest traces throughout the Middle Ages into contemporary history.
The Sickingenmuseum in the Zehntenscheune offers a tour through the life and times of Franz von Sickingen, the most prominent Landstuhler of all times. It highlights the effects of his political and personal development onto the centuries to follow. There is also a separate department called “The Knight and his Era” with original letters and pictures.
Sustainability at its best
Nature fans may enjoy a visit at “Haus der Nachhaltigkeit” (House of Sustainability) near Johnanniskreuz. It is considered to be the consumer section for the German part of the “Biosphere Reserve Palatinate Forest North-Vosges” and offers varying displays, such as 3D films about landscapes, alternating events and an attractive outside area with local flora and fauna. The adjoining Pfälzer Waldladen sells organic food and ecological presents for young and old.
Festivals and fun
On May 7, the Sickingen Herolde parade through the city in colorful, historic outfits with horns and drums in honor of Franz von Sickingen. The “Sickingenmarkt” takes place the end of April and the “Stadtfest” in September, with food and beverage booths and musical stages throughout the city. Each individual community has its own village fest in the summer months and festivities, such as the “Schnappsbrennerfest” in Mittelbrunn in July and the “Hahnenfest” in Bann in June, are well known even beyond the region.
Did you know that…
Since 1953 about 54,500 Americans were born in Landstuhl.
Famous Americans born there include musician Rob Thomas, football player Reggie Williams and LeVar Burton, who starred as LCDR Geordi La Forge in “Star Trek – The Next Generation.”
Franz von Sickingen tried to conquer the city of Trier in 1522 during the “Pfaffenkriege” (clerical wars).
Mammoth trees not only grow in California. You can also spot impressive Wellentonias on the road leading to Zweibrücken (L465) and take a walk under giants.
Welcome to the Union Community of Landstuhl
As Mayor I would like to extend a warm welcome to the Union Community of Landstuhl, which consists of the City of Landstuhl and eleven further towns with a total population of 28,000.
We strive to be good hosts during your stay in Germany and invite you to get to know us and our home country better. Getting better acquainted includes a visit at impressive Castle Nanstein in Landstuhl as well as a hike in wild, romantic Karlstal near Trippstadt. The Mountainbikepark Pfälzerwald offers various tours within our Union Community.
There are numerous festivals and events throughout the year, whether the Stadtfest in Landstuhl or one of various village and club fests in the individual towns. There is a large offer of Christmas markets at the end of the year and you can enjoy an exciting virtual 360⁰ tour of our wonderful castle Nanstein on our homepage.
Enjoy your time in Germany!
Cordially,
Dr. Peter Degenhardt, Mayor
For further information about the Union Community, please visit www.landstuhl.de. For events, click “Veranstaltungen” and visit www.landstuhl.de/de/tourismus/sehenswertes/burg-nanstein for the castle tour.
