The Schmidtburg was the ancestral seat of the counts in the Nahegau and remained in wildgräflichen possession until the beginning of the 14th century. After the acquisition of the castle by Archbishop Balduin of Trier in 1324, the fortress was expanded and became a military base for the territorial politics of Kurtrier. When French pioneers blew up the structure in 1688 during the Reunions Wars, the Schmidtburg lost its military significance permanently. The upper castle remained the administrative seat for the Kurtrier possessions in the Hunsrück until the end of the 18th century.
Only after extensive excavation and renovation measures in the 1970s and 1980s was the size of the site, which had been almost completely reclaimed by nature, once again recognizable.
We also encounter it as a station on the Traumschleife Hahnenbachtaltour. Camping is also possible at Schmidtburg upon registration.
