Dannenfels

Dannenfels is a municipality in the Donnersbergkreis district, in Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany.

Dannenfels
Municipality
Dannenfels at the foothills of Donnersberg mountain
Coat of arms
Location of Dannenfels within Donnersbergkreis district
Dannenfels Dannenfels
Coordinates: 49°37′42.10″N 7°56′34.60″E
Country	Germany
State	Rhineland-Palatinate
District	Donnersbergkreis
Municipal assoc.	Kirchheimbolanden
Government
• Mayor (2019–24)	Ernst Ludwig Huy
Area
• Total	15.79 km2 (6.10 sq mi)
Elevation	400 m (1,300 ft)
Population  (2022-12-31)
• Total	868
• Density	55/km2 (140/sq mi)
Time zone	UTC+01:00 (CET)
• Summer (DST)	UTC+02:00 (CEST)
Postal codes	67814
Dialling codes	06357
Vehicle registration	KIB
Website	www.dannenfels.de

Geography

Physical geography

Dannenfels is located in the North Palatine Uplands at altitude of 400 m (1300 ft). A large part of the Donnersbergmassiv is located inside the municipal limits, including the peak itself. fruit trees are grown below the village, protected by the shadow of the mountain. Forests dominate the landscape above the village. Due to the exposed location the Upper Rhine Plain and the Kraichgau region on the other side of the Rhine can be seen from Dannenfels.

Climate

The yearly precipitation is 808 mm. The precipation falls in the mid third of the results recorded in Germany. Lower results are recorded at 65% of DWD stations. The driest month is September, most precipitation happens in June. There is 1.4 times more precipitation in June than in September. Precipitation varies minimally and are extremely even spread out across the year. Lower variations are only recorded at 4% of DWD stations.

Political geography

Besides the village proper, the inhabited places Bastenhaus, Dannenfelsermühle and Haus Donnersberg are part of the municipality.

Neighbouring municipalities are Kirchheimbolanden, Bolanden, Jakobsweiler, Steinbach am Donnersberg and Rockenhausen.

History

Dannenfels was declared a city in 1331, initiated by Count Philipp of Sponheim-Bolanden. His son Heinrich II of Sponheim-Bolanden moved the court to Kirchheimbolanden in 1370. After his death in 1393 his granddaughter and through her, her husband Philipp I, Count of Nassau-Weilburg inherited the Dominion of Kirchheim and Stauf. Because of this the lion of Nassau is included in the village's coat of arms.

Until the end of the 18th century Dannenfels was part of the Duchy of Nassau-Weilburg and was administered from Kirchheimbolanden.

After the War of the First Coalition Dannenfels was occupied and later annexed by France with the Treaty of Campo Formio in 1797. From 1798 to 1814 it belonged to the French Departement du Mont-Tonnerre. After the Congress of Vienna the region was first given to Austria (1815) and later to Bavaria (1816).

On 11th June 1922 Fritz Heß became mayor of Dannenfels, arguably making him the first national socialist mayor in Germany.

After World War II Dannenfels became part of Rhineland-Palatinate (1946). Since 1969 it belongs to the Donnersbergkreis district.

Politics

Council

The village council is composed of 12 members who were elected in a personalized proportional representation in the local elections on June 9, 2024, and the honorary mayor as chairman.

Heraldry

The coat of arms was granted by the Bavarian Ministry of the Interior in 1925. It is based on seal from 1658.

Partnership

Dannenfels is twinned with Abaliget,Hungary.

Points of interest

Buildings

Protected buildings

• Tannenfels Castle (Palatinate)
• Wildenstein Castle (Palatinate)
• Donnersberghaus (old school house)
• Protestant church
• Ludwigsturm (Ludwig's tower)
• Adlerbogen (Eagle arch)

Other buildings

The Sender Donnersberg radio tower is located here.

• 
  Donnersberghaus
• 
  prot. church
• 
  Ludwigsturm
• 
  Adlerbogen
• 
  Sender Donnersberg

Natural monuments

Dicke Keschde

This Sweet chestnut tree on Dannenfels' main street is said to be 650 years old. Other sources attest it an age of 400-600 years. It is the thickest sweet chestnut north of the Alps.

Dicke Keschde in 2009

Protected areas

• Eschdell nature reserve
• Königsstuhl rock formation

Economy and infrastructure

Economy

In the late 19th century BASF built recreational facilities for their workers.

Tourism

There are multiple restaurants in Dannenfels. And an hut managed by the Palatine Forest Club. Several hiking trails run through the area.

Infrastructure

Roads

The village itself is connected by multiple state roads. Two minor roads lead up the Donnersberg mountain. The A63 runs 6 km (4 mi) south of Dannenfels.

Public transit

Dannenfels is served by the 901 bus line of the VRN, that runs from Rockenhausen to Kirchheimbolanden, rail transfer is possible on both ends.

bus stop at Bastenhaus

Education

Dannenfels has an elementary school that is also visited by children from Bennhausen and Jakobsweiler.

Military

The Dannenfels Communications Station of the Seventh United States Army was closed in 1991.

People

Born in Dannenfels

• Wilhelm Theodor Gümbel (1812-1858), botanist
• Karl Wilhelm von Gümbel (1823-1898), geologist
• Fritz Heß, (1879-1938), politician (NSDAP)
• Michael Weiß (born 1965), football manager

Connected to Dannenfels

• Erich Spickschen (1897-1957), NS-Landesbauerführer in East Prussia, rented an inn here in 1950
• Moritz Anton Konerding (1960-2015), anatomist, died in a plane crash near the village