Dalberg

Dalberg is an Ortsgemeinde – a municipality belonging to a Verbandsgemeinde, a kind of collective municipality – in the Bad Kreuznach district in Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany. It belongs to the Verbandsgemeinde of Rüdesheim, whose seat is in the municipality of Rüdesheim an der Nahe.GeographyLocationDalberg lies in the Gräfenbach valley in the Hunsrück and has a population of about 250, who are mainly Catholic, and who live mainly along the Gräfenbach and the Mehlbach, two of the village’s three streets.Neighbouring municipalitiesClockwise from the north, Dalberg’s neighbours are the municipalities of Wallhausen, Argenschwang and Spabrücken.HistoryThe village of Dalberg arose in the Gräfenbach valley at the like-named castle at a rather arbitrarily chosen spot that was rather ill suited for agriculture. Part of the village’s history is inextricably bound with the Lords of Dalberg. Castle Dalberg was built sometime about 1150 to 1170. Because of the noble family’s association with the village and the castle, the name “Dalberg” is well known in German history. The family Dalberg has brought forth many important politicians, scientists and bishops. Their name is drawn from the castle, which is also known as the Dalburg (Berg and Burg, both common placename endings in Germany – as well as standalone words in German – have different pronunciations and meanings: the former is, meaning “mountain”, and the latter, meaning “castle”). Even now that it is a ruin, this once mighty building still bears witness to its former owners’ might and influence. It was at the foot of the castle that the village of Dalberg sprang up.