The recreational village of Altenbamberg lies in the Alsenz valley on the edge of the North Palatine Uplands at an elevation of 130 m above sea level. The municipal area measures 753 ha, of which 286.5 ha is wooded, 50 ha is used for winegrowing and 226 ha is used for agriculture.
The narrow stretch of the Alsenz valley where Altenbamberg now lies is known to have been settled even in prehistoric times. The Stone Agearchaeological finds from the Altenbamberg and Neu-Bamberg area have yielded clues as to a settlement here in the New Stone Age. Traces of Bronze Age dwellings have been confirmed in this same area and also near Frei-Laubersheim and Siefersheim. It may be assumed that Bronze Age dwellings were represented in the North Palatine-Rhenish-Hessian region rather densely. In 1903, near the Schäferplacken within Altenbamberg's limits, an archaeological dig at the Hünengräber was undertaken with great eagerness. Recovered from this operation were grave goods that were most important to confirming the presence of an Iron Age culture in the area from about 750 to 15 BC. Right from the beginning, Altenbamberg's history has been bound to the castle, Altenbaumburg. This castle, which had its first documentary mention in 1129, was seat to the line of the Raugraves, descendants of the Emichones, who from 960 were counts in the Nahegau. The village's name has nothing to do with the Franconian town of Bamberg, but rather derives from the castle's name. Other names that the village has borne over the ages are as follows:
The council is made up of 12 council members, who were elected by majority vote at the municipal election held on 7 June 2009, and the honorary mayor as chairman.
The municipality's arms might be described thus: Argent in base ground with a mount in the middle vert upon which and to each side a tree of the same, under the trees a bar wavy of the field and in chief, each side of the middle tree two mullets Or. The arms violate a traditional rule of heraldry by placing a metal upon another metal.
Culture and sightseeing
Buildings
The following are listed buildings or sites in Rhineland-Palatinate’s Directory of Cultural Monuments:
Graveyard – Kastl-Voelker gravestone, façade, relief of a mourner, about 1900
Old Jewish Graveyard, Am Judengraben/Narrenbrunnen am Schloßberg – area laid out in 1750 with 10 gravestones
Brücklocherhof, on Kreisstraße 85 – 18th and earlier half of the 19th century; commercial building partly timber-frame
Am Bernhardsschlößchen – Castle Treuenfels ruin, quarrystone walls of castle ruin, 1253; built as free-standing outwork of Castle Altenbaumburg
Castle Altenbaumburg – neck ditch and shield wall, rectangular tower, wall remnants 13th century, remnants of Gothic dwelling buildings and the Gothic chapel of the Raugraves’ castle seat mentioned in 1129 and fallen into ruin in 1482; the Gothic palas reconstructed in 1981–1983
Many visitors from near and far come each year to the Burgfest to celebrate in a special atmosphere and enjoy the Altenbamberg wine.
Sport and leisure
Outing destinations are the Altenbaumburg, the Treuenfels, the Schäferplacken and the Rödelstein. There is an outstanding hiking trail network with a grilling facility and a shelter in wooded surroundings.
Economy and infrastructure
Transport
Leading through Altenbamberg is Bundesstraße 48. Serving the village is a railway station on the Alsenz Valley Railway.
Economic structure
Altenbamberg lies in the Nahe wine region, and still has one full-time winemaker. For the villagers, there are a supermarket and a bakery. Medical services are being taken over mainly by the bordering towns of Bad Münster am Stein-Ebernburg and Bad Kreuznach. There are also “gastronomical” establishments with ten beds.
Churches
Altenbamberg also has one Evangelical church and one Catholic church, each with weekly services.
