Situated on the north-west edge of the Palatinate Forest, 11 miles (18 km) west of the city of Kaiserslautern, the town is located near Ramstein Air Base.

About 1152, Emperor Frederick I had Nanstein Castle built on the mountain south of town.

During the 15th century, the lords of Sickingen assumed responsibility for Landstuhl and the surrounding area.

After several unsuccessful attempts to lay siege to the city, he withdrew to Nanstein Castle and was subsequently besieged by a coalition of Richard, Archbishop of Trier; Louis V, Elector Palatine; and Philip I, Landgrave of Hesse.

His sons rebuilt the castle in Renaissance style, but it was largely destroyed by Louis XIV's army during the Rhine campaign of the Nine Years' War.