# Leiningerland > Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Leiningerland > Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Leiningerland.md > Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leiningerland > Source revision: 1322301532 > License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) {{Short description|Historic landscape in Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany}} {{for|the administrative unit|Leiningerland (Verbandsgemeinde)}} thumb|Leiningerland (outlined in light blue) The '''Leiningerland''' ({{IPA|de|ˈlaɪnɪŋɐlant}}) is an historic [landscape](/source/List_of_landscapes_in_Rhineland-Palatinate) in the [Palatinate region](/source/Palatinate_region) in the German federal state of [Rhineland-Palatinate](/source/Rhineland-Palatinate). It is named after an aristocratic family that used to be the most important in the region, the [House of Leiningen](/source/House_of_Leiningen). == Geography == [[File:2006 Dirmstein-Loesswand3.jpg|thumb|left|A [loess](/source/loess) wall, a natural monument and biotope]] The Leiningerland lies in northeast Palatinate, mostly in the county of [Bad Dürkheim](/source/Landkreis_Bad_D%C3%BCrkheim). Its area coincides with large parts of the collective municipalities of [Hettenleidelheim](/source/Verbandsgemeinde_Hettenleidelheim) and [Grünstadt-Land](/source/Verbandsgemeinde_Gr%C3%BCnstadt-Land) as well as the town of [Grünstadt](/source/Gr%C3%BCnstadt). Also a part of the historic Leiningerland is the region around the town of [Eisenberg](/source/Eisenberg_(Palatinate)), which is in the county of [Donnersbergkreis](/source/Donnersbergkreis) today. Its total area is just under 200 km2. The region does not have a uniform topography, but shares in three [geological](/source/geological) features: the [Central Uplands](/source/Central_Uplands), the [Rhine Rift Valley](/source/Rhine_Rift_Valley) and the [Rhine Plain](/source/Rhine_Plain). the Leiningerland extends from the northeastern foothills of the [Palatine Forest](/source/Palatine_Forest) in the west across the northern part of the [German Wine Road](/source/German_Wine_Road) near [Grünstadt](/source/Gr%C3%BCnstadt) to [Dirmstein](/source/Dirmstein) in the east, where the [vineyards](/source/common_grape_vine) spread out into the [Upper Rhine Plain](/source/Upper_Rhine_Plain). The village of Dirmstein itself, which is today included in the Leinigerland, was never owned by the House of Leiningen, however. Depending on altitude - about 400 metres in the west to about 100 metres to the east - the climate of the different areas also varies. The soils in the area of the fault scarp benefit from fertile [loess](/source/loess) deposits whilst, in places, there are steep rock faces on the scarp slopes which are a result of [erosion](/source/erosion_(geology)) and which are now classified as [natural monument](/source/natural_monument)s and [biotope](/source/biotope)s. The Leinigerland is drained by two, [orographic](/source/orographic)ally left-hand [tributaries](/source/tributaries) of the [Rhine](/source/Rhine): the [Eckbach](/source/Eckbach_(Rhine)) and den [Eisbach](/source/Eisbach_(Rhine)). {{clear|left}} == History == [[File:Leiningen (Adelsgeschlecht) (COA).svg|thumb|upright|left|Leiningen coat of arms according to the [GHdA](/source/GHdA)]] [[File:2006-Dirmstein-Kilometerstein.jpg|thumb|[Hour column](/source/Kilometre_stone_No._5_(Dirmstein)) from the time of Bavarian rule]] In the [Middle Ages](/source/Middle_Ages), the Eckbach stream was called the ''Leinbach'', which referred to the so-called ''Leinbaum'' or Norway maple. At that time, both the [maple](/source/maple) and the [large-leaved lime](/source/large-leaved_lime) occurred locally, especially on the banks of the Eckbach. The old name of the stream may have been the origin of the name given to the castle seat of the [House of Leiningen](/source/House_of_Leiningen), probably [Frankish](/source/Franks) nobles who came from the area of the upper Eckbach and whose coat of arms bore a lime tree. The castle was called the Leiningen, but is known today as [Altleiningen Castle](/source/Altleiningen_Castle). Records of its occupation go back at least to the early 12th century - to Count Emich II (died before 1138). Not certain, but probable, is that his predecessor, Emich I, was also his father. Many communities, both locally and further afield, bearn the silver eagle of the Leiningens in their municipal coat of arms. The most important lords in the area until the [Early Modern Era](/source/Early_Modern_Era), apart from the Leiningens, were the [electors of the Palatinate](/source/Electoral_Palatinate) and the [prince-bishops of Worms](/source/Bishopric_of_Worms). [French](/source/France) troops caused great destruction under [General Mélac](/source/Ez%C3%A9chiel_du_Mas%2C_Comte_de_M%C3%A9lac) during the [War of the Palatine Succession](/source/War_of_the_Palatine_Succession) (1689–1697). The Leiningerland was also heavily influenced by [Bavarian rule](/source/Kingdom_of_Bavaria) of the Palatinate, which lasted from 1816 to the end of the [Second World War](/source/Second_World_War). {{clear|left}} == Sights == [Altleiningen Castle](/source/Altleiningen_Castle) "above" the [eponymous](/source/Altleiningen) village recalls the Leiningen lords, as does [Neuleiningen Castle](/source/Neuleiningen_Castle), 5 kilometres to the northeast in the centre of the [village](/source/Neuleiningen) of the same name. Both castles have been partially restored. Today, Altleiningen Castle is home to a [youth hostel](/source/youth_hostel), an [open-air swimming pool](/source/open-air_swimming_pool) in the old castle [moat](/source/moat) and the "professional amateur theatre" of the Altleiningen Castle Players (''Burgspiele Altleiningen''). The remains of other Leiningen castles are in [Battenberg](/source/Battenberg_(Palatinate)), where there was once a castle [of the same name](/source/Battenberg_Castle), and in [Bockenheim](/source/Bockenheim_an_der_Weinstra%C3%9Fe) where [Emichsburg Castle](/source/Emichsburg_(Palatinate)) stands. File:Burg Altleiningen Schwimmbad.JPG|Altleiningen Castle File:Burg Neuleiningen Bergfried.JPG|Neuleiningen Castle File:Battenberg.JPG|Battenberg Castle File:Emichsburg.JPG|The Emichsburg In the Altleiningen village of [Höningen](/source/H%C3%B6ningen) are various elements of the [Augustinian canon church of St. Peter](/source/H%C3%B6ningen_Abbey) and the former [Höningen Latin School](/source/H%C3%B6ningen_Latin_School) as well as the [Romanesque](/source/Romanesque_architecture) Church of St. James. Near Neuleiningen Castle lies the ''Alte Pfarrey'' ("Old Vicarage"), in which one of the leading restaurants in the Palatinate is housed. File:Gruenderzeithaus Hettenleidelheim.jpg|A ''[Gründerzeit](/source/Gr%C3%BCnderzeit)'' villa in [Hettenleidelheim](/source/Hettenleidelheim) File:St.jacob.jpg|Romanesque Church of St. James in Höningen File:Grünstadt stilisiert um 1680.JPG|Grünstadt around 1680 (wood painting) File:Grünstadter um 1800 JS.jpg|Grünstadt around 1800 (decorative plate) [St Lawrence's Church](/source/St_Lawrence's_Church%2C_Dirmstein) in Dirmstein is a fine example of [baroque architecture](/source/baroque_architecture). It was built from 1742 to 1746 by [Franz Rothermel](/source/Franz_Rothermel) to modified plans from the famous church architect, [Balthasar Neumann](/source/Balthasar_Neumann), as a [simultaneum](/source/simultaneum). Nearby, in the historic centre, are three restored palace-like manor houses: the [Sturmfedersches Schloss](/source/Sturmfedersches_Schloss), the [Koeth-Wanscheidsches Schloss](/source/Koeth-Wanscheidsches_Schloss) and the [Quadtsches Schloss](/source/Quadtsches_Schloss), as well as two [English garden](/source/English_garden)s in the ''[schloss](/source/schloss)'' park and the cellar garden. The town of Grünstadt and the municipalities of [Großkarlbach](/source/Gro%C3%9Fkarlbach) and [Neuleiningen](/source/Neuleiningen) have picturesque centres with numerous [timber-framed](/source/timber-framed) buildings. File:2006 Dirmstein-Laurentiuskirche-Süd.jpg|Dirmstein: St. Lawrence Church... File:2006 Dirmstein-Sturmfeder-Schloss retouched.jpg|...Sturmfedersches Schloss File:2008-Dirmstein-Koeth-Wanscheid-Schloss-Norden-032.jpg|...Koeth-Wanscheidsches Schloss File:2006 Dirmstein-Quad-Schloss.jpg|...Quadtsches Schloss The [Eckbach Mill Path](/source/Eckbach_Mill_Path), which was created in 1997 on the initiative of the [Kleinkarlbach](/source/Kleinkarlbach) mill researcher, Wolfgang Niederhöfer, runs for 23 kilometres along the Eckbach stream and past 23 old [water mill](/source/water_mill)s from southwest to northeast through the Leiningerland. In 2007 in the [Großkarlbach village mill](/source/Dorfm%C3%BChle_(Gro%C3%9Fkarlbach)) the Leiningerland Mill Museum (''Mühlenmuseum Leiningerland'') was opened. From a hydro-engineering perspective the [20-Pipe Well](/source/20-Pipe_Well) of Altleiningen is important; it is fed from a [mine gallery](/source/mine_gallery) which was driven deep into the rock around 1600 in order to supply the castle. Today, the well delivers most of the water for the Eckbach. File:Neuleiningen Kirche von Osten.JPG|St.Nikolaus in Neuleiningen File:Neuleiningen Fachwerkhaus Obergasse.JPG|Timber-framed houses in Neuleiningen File:2006 Dirmstein-Eckbachweg.jpg|Eckbach Mill Path File:2006 Dirmstein-Eckbach-Laumersheim.jpg|The Eckbach and the [Laumersheim](/source/Laumersheim) File:2007.0601.03 Dorfmuehle Grosskarlbach.jpg|Großkarlbach village mill and mill museum The upper reaches of the Eisbach and its valley, the ''Eistal'', which is natural in places, also flow through the Leiningerland. Its main attractions are the 6 hectare reservoir of the [Eiswoog](/source/Eiswoog), the bridges of the regional [Eis Valley Railway](/source/Eis_Valley_Railway), the local [Stumpfwald Railway](/source/Stumpfwald_Railway), which is a [narrow gauge](/source/narrow_gauge), [heritage line](/source/heritage_line) that carries tourists through the forest, and, near Eisenberg, archaeological site of a [Roman](/source/Ancient_Rome) [vicus](/source/vicus) and the protected landscape of [Erdekaut](/source/Erdekaut). There are several old churches dating to [Romanesque](/source/Romanesque_architecture) and [Gothic](/source/Gothic_architecture) periods, especially on the middle course of the Eisbach. File:Eiswoog.jpg|The Eiswoog in the Stumpfwald forest near Ramsen File:Eiswooglrp-2.jpg|The [Eis Valley Viaduct](/source/Eis_Valley_Viaduct) on the Eis Valley Railway File:Stumpfwaldbahn Lok.jpg|Train on the Stumpfwald Railway In addition to the mill museum in Großkarlbach there are also the Hettenleidelheim Local History Museum (''Heimatmuseum Hettenleidelheim'', clay mining), the [Quirnheim](/source/Quirnheim) Museum of Technology (''Technikmuseum Quirnheim'', bicycles), the museum in the castle tower at Neuleiningen (castle history, [stoneware](/source/stoneware) manufacturing, gallery of local artist, Simon Conradi) and the museum in the Old Town Hall (''Altes Rathaus'') at Grünstadt (Counts of Leiningen, stoneware manufacture, [brewing](/source/brewing), paintings by Johann Adam Schlesinger). == Events == The Leiningerland is heavily dependent on [viticulture](/source/viticulture_in_Germany); its vineyards being part of the [Palatinate wine region](/source/Palatinate_wine_region). During the warmer months, a festival takes place almost every weekend somewhere - be it a [fair](/source/fair), [kermesse](/source/kermesse_(festival)) or [wine festival](/source/wine_festival). The best known nationally is probably the [Kändelgassenfest](/source/K%C3%A4ndelgassenfest) in Großkarlbach. Every year, the ''Wine Countess of the Leiningerland'' is selected, who then represents the region at events and festivals in the next twelve months. One of the wine countesses, [Sylvia Benzinger](/source/Sylvia_Benzinger), later also became the [Palatine Wine Queen](/source/Palatine_Wine_Queen) and [German Wine Queen](/source/German_Wine_Queen). Every year in early October - usually on [German Unity Day](/source/German_Unity_Day) - the "Car-Free Eis Valley Day of Action" attracts many visitors to the region. The L 395 road, which runs from Asselheim through the Eise valley to Enkenbach, is closed to [motor vehicle](/source/motor_vehicle)s for the whole of one Sunday and the valley is open exclusively to pedestrians, usually hikers, and to cyclists. Every October since 1953 there has been a [Palatine language](/source/Palatine_language) poetry competition at [Bockenheim](/source/Bockenheim_an_der_Weinstra%C3%9Fe). The Kirchheim Winter Concert was established in 1990 and takes place in St Andrew's Church in [Kirchheim](/source/Kirchheim_an_der_Weinstra%C3%9Fe). Its founder and artistic director is the [bass-baritone](/source/bass-baritone) and [International Bach Prizewinner](/source/International_Johann_Sebastian_Bach_Competition), [Dominik Wörner](/source/Dominik_W%C3%B6rner). The focus of the concert series is on [early music](/source/early_music). File:Haus-der-Deutschen-Weinstrasse.jpg|[Haus der Deutschen Weinstraße](/source/Haus_der_Deutschen_Weinstra%C3%9Fe) in Bockenheim File:2006-Dirmstein-Riesling-Weinberg.jpg|[Riesling](/source/Riesling) vineyard near Dirmstein File:2006 Dirmstein-Kelter.jpg|Celtic replica by master cooper, Emil Steigner File:Sylvia Benzinger-Ausschnitt.jpg|German Wine Queen, [Sylvia Benzinger](/source/Sylvia_Benzinger) (2005) == External links == * [http://www.leiningerland.com/ Website of the Leiningerland Tourism Association – The Gateway to the Palatinate] * [http://www.konzertwinter.de/ Website of the concert series Kirchheimer Konzertwinter] {{coord missing|Rhineland-Palatinate}} Category:Historical regions in Germany Category:Regions of Rhineland-Palatinate Category:Anterior Palatinate Category:Former states and territories of Rhineland-Palatinate --- Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Leiningerland](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leiningerland) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leiningerland?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.