Wells and Springs of Diemerstein

Diemerstein is a tiny village in a narrow valley just off Bundestrasse 37 between Hochspeyer and Frankenstein in Kaiserslautern County.  Where the valley forks splits into the Diemerstein Valley and the Glasbach Valley stand the ruins of Diemerstein Castle. Like most Palatinate castles, it was slighted by the French in 1698, but it remains a most romantic ruins, situated on a rocky spur and shaded by tall pines.

The inhabitants of Diemerstein and the Glasbach Valley were farmers, herdsmen, and woodsmen. Today it is purely residential; the site of the former sawmill is a children's home, and the old brewery is a restaurant. Formerly a series of flowing springs provided the water for the small, secluded community. Two are of special interest for their folklore associations.

In the "center" of Diemerstein, near the renovated "Bollerbrunnen" (renovated as a community effort several years ago) is another spring called the "Kindelbrunnen".  Like many Palatinate villages, Diemerstein had a special place where the souls of unborn babies waited until suitable parents were provided for them. This spring was located at the entrance to a mine shaft or adit, and was considered a rather eerie, supernatural sort of place. This is typical of the area; stories to frighten children or keep them away from dangerous places were commonplace. I expect the parents of Diemerstein did not want their children exploring a potentially dangerous old mine shaft!

The other interesting spring is the so-called "Hungerbrunnen" or Famine Spring. An intermittent spring, its waters never reached Diemerstein even when in full flow.  It watered the Jaegerwiesen of Hunter's Meadow a few meters down the narrow valley. The spring only flows during periods of heavy rainfall; the same conditions that can cause crop failure and consequently, famine. The Palatinate Forest Association (PVV) has included this spring in its "Ritterstein" collection of historic sites.

The Hungerbrunnen is at the end of a narrow valley called the Diemerstein Valley on the local topo maps.  But natives of Diemerstein referred to the valley as the "Hexendelle or Witches Valley, and the spring is under a rock outcrop near the "Wolfskaut" or Wolf Pit. The old ridge road between Diemerstein and Alsenborn comes down into the Hexendelle here.  It is sometimes called the "Brot Pfad" or Bread Path, as the Diemersteiners had their bread made of grain milled in Alsenborn, about 5 kms or 3 miles north. It is also called the "Totenweg" or Death Road or Corpse Road. Apparently Diemerstein was part of the ancient parish centered at Alsenborn and the dead of Diemerstein had to be carried to the old church for burial.

Colored photos will be added to this site as soon as the weather improves!

"Quellen und Brunnen in Diemerstein", Willi Walther.  Heimatjahrbuch des Landkreises Kaiserslautern 2000, 199, Arbogast, Otterberg.  ISBN     3-87022-264-6

Back to Janet Taylor's Home Page