Hikes in Widdern

The path mostly follows the route of the Way of St. James from Rothenburg to Speyer. Along the way, there are some small adjustments.

The path mostly follows the route of the Way of St. James from Rothenburg to Speyer. There are small deviations along the way.

The Upper German-Rhaetian Limes, which marked the border of the Roman Empire between the rivers Rhine and Danube over a length of 550 km.

Burgenland above the river and a variety of castles along historic trails. Through the quiet, narrow alleys of Baden-Württemberg’s smallest town and along old paths to the castle and the valley.

Schöntal - Oberkessach - Rossach - Schöntal, 21 km

Burgenland above the river and a variety of castles along historic trails. Through the quiet, narrow alleys of Baden-Württemberg’s smallest town and along old paths to the castle and the valley.

Nice big round From Jagstradweg to Kocherradweg

From Widdern to Olnhausen

The easy hiking tour leads from Römerstraße (Oberkessach) over meadows, forests, and agricultural paths to Weigental. From Weigental, it goes to Unterkessach and along the Kessach back to Oberkessach.

This tour features two Baroque-style churches: The Church of St. John the Baptist in Oberkessach dates from the 18th century, while the adjoining rectory was built in 1609. The Baroque hall church in Unterkessach was built between 1738 and 1742. It is the successor to the 15th-century St. George’s Chapel. The bike and walking path through the beautiful Kessach Valley, with its lush meadows and wide floodplains, connects the two villages. ▶ We begin our hike in Oberkessach 01 (250 m). Parking is available at the sports field on “Merchinger Straße.” We first follow the road toward the church and on to the L1046. We follow it to the left, around the left-hand curve, and along “Rathausstraße” across the Kessach River. After a short stretch, we leave the main road and turn right onto “Bieringer Steige.” Just before the L1046, we turn turn right onto a gravel path and follow it uphill. After just a few minutes, we reach a paved road, which we follow to the right. We now walk along the paved road for a good one and a half kilometers until we reach the K2321 02 (337 m). Cross the road straight ahead, then continue along this path. After half an hour, we reach the Limesturm 03 (337 m). We continue along our paved road through a long right-hand curve until we reach the K2020. Cross here straight ahead as well; we’re now on a forest and gravel path. After a few meters, at the fork, we keep to the right—first along the edge of the forest, then into the forest itself. After about 15 minutes, we turn right at the intersection. After 500 meters, we come to a path and turn left onto it. After 150 meters, a small path branches off to the right, which we follow around a right-hand curve. After a few minutes, we pass close to the K2020 until the path descends again to the left. The next time we reach the K2020, we follow it downhill for a short distance this time—only about 75 meters—then another unpaved path on the right leads us downhill again. It joins “Am Trieb”; at “Talstraße,” we then turn right. At the Unterkessach 04 church (328 m), we continue along “Talstraße” around the right-hand curve. Shortly after leaving the village, the trail leads us to the right across the Kessach River. At the fork, we turn left and now hike for nearly an hour through the beautiful Kessach Valley 05 (244 m). Finally, the trail joins the “Auweg.” We have arrived back in Oberkessach 01 (250 m). At “Kaiserstraße,” we turn left, crossing over the mill canal and the Kessach River, until we turn right again at “Kessachstraße.” We pass the Lambach pump on our way to the main road. Here, we turn left and return to the car in a few minutes.