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The Celtic village in Steinbach, a small town which is located only a few kilometers from Kaiserslautern, at the bottom of the Donnersberg hill, transforms history into an experience for all your senses.
***image1***The Celtic village is not a typical museum. Besides exciting guided tours that lead you through the settlement, which is erected in the traditional method of construction, visitors can become active themselves; for example they can felt, or work with, clay.
The ground plans of the excavation of a fortified Celtic settlement, which had been discovered at Westheim, near Germersheim, served as a model for the Celtic village in Steinbach.
***image2***The six buildings give a good idea about the craftsman’s techniques the Celts used to build their houses. There are wooden post and half-timbered constructions, which were made with the help of corresponding tenons in the traditional timber-frame technique. Wooden shingles were used for the roof and the facades were plastered with clay. The buildings are equipped differently, so that life-sized figures in Celtic costumes, a loom, a Celtic bedroom, household items, pottery as well as a smithy with adequate tools can be seen.
The observation tower, which is 11.5 meters high, provides a spacious platform at the height of about 8 meters, from where the visitors of the Celtic village can enjoy the view of the Donnersberg – the highest mountain in the Palatinate.
***image3***The guided tours inform you, among other things, about life, work and faith of the people who lived at the Donnersberg more than 2,000 years ago. At the end of every guided tour, guests are invited to taste a glass of mead.
During the weekend, alternating activities such as archery, felting, the construction of arrows, the production of clay pearls or Celtic music are offered in addition to the guided tours. Thus, children can approach the history of the Celts in a playful and creative way.
Numerous special and musical events take place in the Celtic village as well, for instance, on the occasion of Celtic holidays. You can direct your inquiries about the dates to the Donnersberg-Touristik-Verband.
The Celtic village is open to Nov. 1. Opening hours are 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturdays and from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sundays and holidays. Groups can request guided tours on weekdays. During the week, half-day and all-day programs, which are specially organized for groups (children and adults), allow an insight into Celtic craftsmanship techniques, which visitors can test themselves.
The admission fee is €4 for adults, €2 for children (under 12), €10 for families and €3 for groups of at least 15 people. Half-day and all-day programs are offered on request. For programs and more information contact Donnersberg-Touristik-Verband, Uhlandstrasse 2, 67292 Kirchheimbolanden; phone: 06352-1712; fax: 06352-710-262; e-mail: touristik@donnersberg.de or call the Winnweiler union community administration office at 06302-60240. The Celtic village’s Web site is www.keltendorf-steinbach.de.
***image4***A few minutes away from the Celtic village is the Celtic garden. Here visitors can experience the flora and fauna of the Donnersberg area.
Signs give information about the presence and importance of the different plants and animals and the agriculture and culture of the Celts. Children can enjoy several play areas. Tours are offered. The Celtic garden officially opens Saturday. Opening hours are 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturdays and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sundays.
Steinbach is located northeast of Winnweiler; travel north on B40 and pass Sembach and Börrstadt.
(Courtesy of Donnersberg Touristik office)
