castle
Trifels Castle
A red-sandstone imperial fortress crowning a Palatinate Forest crag once held the crown jewels and Richard the Lionheart.
23 km · about 25 min drive
EuropeGermanyRheinland-Pfalz
Clausen
Rheinland-Pfalz, Germany · Europe
About Clausen
Clausen is worth a stop: 5 minutes from Rodalben, 36km from Deutsche Weinstraße.
Clausen is in Rheinland-Pfalz, Germany, with about 1,600 people. You drive on the right here. The nearest town is Rodalben, about 4 km away.
Clausen (German pronunciation: [ˈklaʊzn̩]) is a municipality in Südwestpfalz district, in Rhineland-Palatinate, western Germany. Clausen belongs to the local association community of Rodalben.
The US Army's 330th Ordnance Company maintained the then classified stocks of GB and VX nerve gas located at Site 59 inRead more
Clausen. 110th Military Police company was in charge of guarding the site with a 42 man guard force. The nerve agents at Site 59 were removed under Operation Steel Box in 1990. These shells were poorly maintained and had numerous leaks from the caustic chemicals that they contained. In addition, the fence line was supposedly sprayed with Agent Orange to deter weeds. A maintenance program in 1979 removed a number of broken shells and replaced the gaskets on those that were still uncompromised. The shells were transported by truck, rail and ship ultimately ending up at Johnston Atoll for incineration at the Johnston Atoll Chemical Agent Disposal System facility. Site 59 was sold and the bunkers were used to grow mushrooms. The area also had solar panels added for power generation. There is a 2.5 ton truck buried under the circular area used as a heliport - the truck was stolen from Pirmasens' base and used for spare parts during an inspection in 1976. A M151 Jeep in also buried next to the nearby bunker.
When the US military began to downsize in the 1990s, the small US Army posts associated with Husterhoeh Kaserne (Pirmasens) were returned to Germany, including ones located at Maßweiler, Munchweiler, Fischbach, and Clausen. This site is currently used as a combination mushroom farm and solar energy site.
A large number of former soldiers, who worked at Site 59, report illnesses consistent with nerve gas exposure. The US Veterans Administration has denied all claims for conditions related to exposure to date. These soldiers often have unexplained rashes, anxiety and diabetes. There were multiple maintenance programs to maintain the shells and to dispose of any with severe leaks. The last maintenance program prior to this site closing terminated in 1981. When Operation Steel Box removed the shells in 1990, multiple shells were found to have leaks.
Clausen's primary industry is agricultural though it is a short drive to Pirmasens. It is located nearby the recreation area Clausensee and the area has many opportunities for outdoor recreation. The fields east of Clausen contain many concrete tank barriers remaining from WWII.
Where to Stay in Clausen
Compare prices across Booking.com, Airbnb, Expedia, and more. Select your dates to see availability.
Filter presets
Pick your must-haves once: provider links open pre-filtered. Each filter lists which sites it applies to.
Compare before you book!
Prices can vary significantly between platforms. We recommend checking at least 2-3 sites to find the best deal for your stay in Clausen.
Explore the Area
Discover famous landmarks, scenic roads, and more near Clausen.
Loading map...
Frequently Asked Questions
What is there to see near Clausen?
Within an hour or so of Clausen: Trifels Castle (23 km), Château de Fleckenstein (25 km), Hambach Castle (33 km), Deutsche Weinstraße (36 km).
Are there any good drives near Clausen?
The nearest famous roads are Deutsche Weinstraße, Schwarzwaldhochstrasse (B500) and Schwarzwaldhochstraße.
Where is Clausen?
Clausen is in Rheinland-Pfalz, Germany, about 4 km from Rodalben.
Road trip
Drive to Clausen
Add it as a stop and the planner works out the driving, the nights and what's worth seeing on the way.
Start planningWhat's nearby?
Swipe through places to go
Places within a drive of Clausen. Keep the ones you like and add them to your trip.
Explore now
Quick Information
- Population
- 1,626
- Continent
- Europe
- Country
- Germany
- Region
- Rheinland-Pfalz
- Timezone
- Europe/Berlin
- Coordinates
- 49.2608, 7.6773
Emergency & Services
Essential numbers in Germany
ADAC roadside assistance: +49 89 22 22 22. No general speed limit on some autobahn sections but advisory 130 km/h.
Full driving guide for GermanyTags
Worth the detour from Clausen
7 notable places within an hour's drive.
castle
Château de Fleckenstein
Ruined 12th-century castle carved directly into a 43-metre sandstone bar on the German border of the Northern Vosges, with rock-hewn stairways, chambers and forest views from the summit platform.
25 km · about 30 min drive
castle
Hambach Castle
Birthplace of German democracy, this hilltop castle above Neustadt flew the black-red-gold flag at the 1832 festival.
33 km · about 40 min drive
famous road
Deutsche Weinstraße
Germany's oldest wine route winds 85 km past vineyards, almond blossoms and half-timbered villages through the Palatinate.
36 km · about 40 min drive
landmark
Hunspach
Immaculate northern-Alsace village of white half-timbered farmhouses with curved bull's-eye window panes, voted France's favourite village in 2020 yet still bypassed by the Colmar crowds.
39 km · about 45 min drive
museum
Technik Museum Speyer
Sister museum to Sinsheim featuring a Boeing 747, submarine, and extensive collection of vintage and classic automobiles.
56 km · about 65 min drive
cathedral
Speyer Cathedral
The world's largest surviving Romanesque church, this imperial cathedral holds the tombs of eight German emperors and kings.
56 km · about 65 min drive
Driving roads near Clausen
6 named roads, passes and coastal drives within 100km.
- 36 kmDeutsche WeinstraßeGermany's oldest wine route winds 85 km past vineyards, almond blossoms and half-timbered villages through the Palatinate.
- 79 kmSchwarzwaldhochstrasse (Black Forest High Road)The B500 ridge road runs 60 km from Baden-Baden to Freudenstadt through dense pine forest, passing the Mummelsee lake and spa towns, with sweeping viewpoints over the Rhine plain.
Driving in Germany
- Drives on
- the right
- Petrol
- ~€1.78/litre
- Motorway tolls
- None
When to drive here
April to October
Nearby Destinations
Other places to explore near Clausen.
Plan a trip around Clausen
Your trip starts here
Plan a road trip from Clausen.
Pick the days, drop in the stops, and share it with whoever's coming.