todayUrban Development
The Nanstein Castle, the Bismarck Tower, the Heidenfelsen, and the surrounding Palatinate Forest landscape with moor meadows and premium trails make Landstuhl an attractive destination for history, nature, and enjoyment.
2024–2026Anniversary
The city’s main axis will be renewed in sections – offering more quality of stay, safe crossings, and a modern appearance for the Sickingenstadt.
2023Identity
Under the motto Celebramus, the town and local associations celebrated 700 years of (traditionally dated) town rights – with tours, concerts, and commemorations of Franz von Sickingen (500th death anniversary 2023).
14.07.1995
To preserve its historical identity, Landstuhl has officially borne the designation Sickingenstadt since 1995 – visible in institutions, associations, and city marketing.
from 1972Administration
As part of the Rhineland-Palatinate administrative reform, Landstuhl became the seat of the collective municipality (today: VG Landstuhl) and thus a central administrative and service hub for surrounding communities.
28.08.1988Contemporary History
At the air show on the Ramstein Air Base, three aircraft of the Frecce Tricolori collided; 70 people died, hundreds were injured. The LRMC and regional rescue forces performed heroically within minutes – the tragedy changed safety standards worldwide.
from 1953Health
As a U.S. military hospital of supraregional significance, the LRMC has shaped the city – medically, economically, and socially. It remains the largest U.S. military hospital outside the United States.
1951–1957Postwar Period
From 1951/52, two U.S. Air Force bases (Landstuhl Air Base / Ramstein Air Base) were built south and north of Landstuhl, merged in 1957 into the Ramstein-Landstuhl Air Base. Landstuhl is part of the Kaiserslautern Military Community.
1873 -> todayEducation
From a Latin school (1873) evolved today’s Sickingen-Gymnasium. 1955 new building, 1998 renaming; in 2023 the school celebrated its 150th anniversary.
1900Landmark
Donated by industrialist C. F. von Stumm-Halberg, a 19 m high Bismarck column was erected in 1900, designed by Wilhelm Kreis. The tower became a popular viewpoint and shapes Landstuhl’s skyline.
1896Spa Culture
Foundation of a mud bath and healing institution, which lasted until 1969 – an expression of the then-flourishing health and spa tourism in Landstuhl.
1868Railway
With the opening of the Landstuhl–Kusel line (Sept. 1868), the Northwest Palatinate gained another rail connection; the line quickly became part of the regional economic life.
1868Nature
Not far from the city, sequoias (redwoods) were planted – today, with heights of over 40 m and trunk diameters of more than 2 m, they are impressive natural monuments of the region.
1841–1843Cityscape
Merchant and patron of the arts Joseph Benzino had a representative villa built on today’s Ludwigstraße in the late classical style – still a striking cultural monument of the city.
1848/49Railway
The east-west trunk line (coal axis Saar – Rhine) was opened in stages: in 1848, the section Kaiserslautern–Homburg (with Landstuhl station) went into operation; by 1849, the route was fully operational. The railway accelerated trade, mobility, and industrialization.
1864Municipal Development
After losing its medieval town rights during the revolutionary period, Landstuhl was once again elevated to town status in 1864 – a milestone in municipal self-government.
1816–1862Bavarian Palatinate
After 1815, the Palatinate (Rheinkreis) became part of the Kingdom of Bavaria. Landstuhl belonged to the district commissariat Homburg (from 1862 district office) and benefited from administrative and infrastructure reforms.
from 1806/10Transport
Between Saarbrücken and Mainz, the historic east-west route was expanded under Napoleon into a wide military and long-distance road (Route Impériale; later B40). In Landstuhl, the Kaiserstraße became the city’s backbone – partly built with material from the old St. Andrew’s Church.
1798–1814French Period
Under French administration, Landstuhl became the chief town of the canton (arrondissement Zweibrücken, département Donnersberg) and seat of a mairie including Bann and Kindsbach. The French administrative reform influenced judiciary, taxation, and infrastructure.
1689War & Destruction
In the War of the Palatine Succession, French troops blew up Nanstein Castle. The site has remained a ruin ever since, prominently shaping Landstuhl’s silhouette.
14th–19th c.Churches & Cult
The choir of the medieval city church St. Andrew’s survives as the Old Chapel. From 1669, the church served as a simultaneous church; in 1805, the dilapidated nave was demolished – its stones were reused in the expansion of the Kaiserstraße. In 1829, the choir was consecrated as today’s chapel.
1481–1523Early Modern Period
Franz von Sickingen (1481–1523), one of the most prominent imperial knights of his time, made Landstuhl a center of knightly power politics. After defeats in the Palatine Knights’ War (1522/23), he retreated to Nanstein Castle. During the siege by the troops of the Archbishop of Trier, the Count Palatine, and the Landgrave of Hesse, the fortress was heavily bombarded; Sickingen succumbed to his injuries on May 7, 1523 – a key date in the city’s history. During the Reformation period, figures such as Martin Bucer and (likely) Johann Schwebel were active in Landstuhl; the old St. Andrew’s Church was temporarily Lutheran and later used in the Simultaneum.
1323/1326Late Middle Ages
Traditionally, town rights are dated to 1323 (the original charter is lost). By 1326, Landstuhl is documented as the town Nanstul. This marks the beginning of urban development at the foot of the castle.
around 1160High Middle Ages
On the hill south of the settlement, the strategically important Nanstein Castle was built. A ring wall subsequently encompassed the castle, the settlement, and the Bürglin (outer bailey/fortified area).
around 850High Middle Ages
In the Lorsch Codex, the royal estate Nannenstul is mentioned together with Lutera (Kaiserslautern) – the oldest documentary trace of today’s Landstuhl.
1st–4th c.Antiquity
Within the city area, a Roman burial ground has been archaeologically verified; coin finds attest to its use from the 1st century until the end of the 4th century. Roman presence thus shaped early traffic and settlement axes.
2nd–4th c.Antiquity
Between Landstuhl and Kindsbach lies the Roman spring sanctuary of the Heidenfelsen. The brook Gutenborn rises directly next to the rock blocks decorated with reliefs; finds indicate its use as a healing spring from the 2nd to the late 4th century. Today, two relief stones are preserved under protection, which probably depict spring deities and ritual sacrifices.
ca. 500 BC – 1 ADPrehistory
In the area of Landstuhl, stone circle or stone ring graves are documented, indicating continuous settlement during the Late La Tène Period. They mark early settlement sites at the transition from the Palatinate Forest to the Westrich Plateau.
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