Burgmuseum und Lapidarium der Burgruine Montfort

Small castle museum with a lapidarium and reconstruction model at the Montfort castle ruin near Hallgarten. Tours by telephone registration.

Ask the museum for opening hoursFree admission

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About the museum

Burg Montfort lies deep in the forest and was built around 1200 by the counts of Veldenz to monitor a nearby military road. Eberhard von Lautern was installed as a feudal vassal; his family held the castle until 1432 and had called itself “von Montfort” since 1247. In 1456 troops of Archbishop Diether of Mainz and Elector Frederick I of the Palatinate captured the complex and destroyed it. Although there were reasons to rebuild, the castle remained a ruin for centuries.

Because it was later neither modernized nor reinforced, today's complex essentially shows its condition after the destruction. The association “Burgfreunde Montfort” (Montfort Castle Friends) secures the remaining walls and has laid out stairs, paths and information boards.

The lapidarium displays remains of building components from the medieval castle, dating from between 1200 and 1456. The attached museum shows archaeological finds such as ceramics, glass and iron, which offer insight into the daily life of the castle's residents. It also has a reconstruction model of the complex and information on the work of medieval archaeologists. The grounds themselves are freely accessible all year; the museum and castle open for pre-booked tours.

Highlights

Lapidarium with building components of the castle from between 1200 and 1456
Archaeological finds of ceramics, glass and iron
Reconstruction model of the castle
Authentic ruin in its state after the destruction of 1456

Permanent exhibition

Burgmuseum und Lapidarium – Building components of the medieval castle, archaeological finds of ceramics, glass and iron, and a reconstruction model.