Observation tower on the summit of the Weißenberg near Merzalben.
The Luitpold Tower stands on the 610-meter-high Weißenberg, which is part of the municipality of Merzalben. From the 30-meter-high tower, whose viewing terrace can be reached via 184 steps, you can enjoy a magnificent 360° panoramic view of the Palatinate Forest Nature Park. If the visibility is good, you can see as far as the Rhine plain and across to neighboring France, more precisely to Alsace-Lorraine and the Vosges. To the north, the sweeping ridge of the Donnersberg can be seen. Since July 2002, 12 orientation plaques attached to the platform have shown the location of prominent destinations. Inside the tower (fireplace room) and in front of it there are several comfortable seating areas that invite you to rest, linger and unwind.
A brief history of the tower: In 1907, the Palatinate Forest poet Fritz Claus had the idea of building a square tower in honor of the then Prince Regent Luitpold of Bavaria (1821-1912). The young Palatinate Forest Association, one of whose founders was Fritz Claus, was heavily involved in the planning of the tower and after significant financial support from the Prince Regent, who also took on the sponsorship, construction began in the same year using local red sandstone. After a construction period of 15 months, the tower was inaugurated on September 26, 1909. For a long time, the tower's vestibule served as a shelter for hikers and forest workers.
Many hiking trails pass by the Luitpold Tower, such as the well-known Pfälzer Waldpfad and the Luitpoldturmweg in the Gräfensteiner Land.
The Luitpold Tower is easily accessible by car from the L496 between Johanniskreuz and Leimen/Pfalz via a narrow forest road (signposted Hermersbergerhof). From the B10 you can also get there via the K56 - past the Ruheforst and through the hamlet of Hermersbergerhof, which belongs to the local community of Wilgartswiesen.
Free parking is available - a little below the tower - in the two hiking car parks Holländerklotz and Luitpoldstein. From both car parks you can reach the tower in just a few minutes on foot.
Opening times
| Monday | 00:00–24:00 |
| Tuesday | 00:00–24:00 |
| Wednesday | 00:00–24:00 |
| Thursday | 00:00–24:00 |
| Friday | 00:00–24:00 |
| Saturday | 00:00–24:00 |
| Sunday | 00:00–24:00 |
Open all year round and freely accessible.
Public transport
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Insufficient information or not accessible.
Completely accessible and fully usable.
Reasonably usable, but not completely accessible.
Insufficient information or not accessible.
Info in leichter Sprache: Der schöne Weg durch den Wald führt zu einem Turm mit toller Aussicht. An einigen Stellen ist er steil und schwierig zu gehen. Auch stehen nicht überall Schilder. Man muss dann dem Logo folgen. Im Turm gibt es sehr viele Stufen. Es ist anstrengend, sie hoch zu steigen. Daher nehmen Sie am besten eine Begleitperson mit, damit Sie sich nicht weh tun, stürzen oder verlaufen.
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Luitpold Tower
66976 Rodalben
+49 6331 234180 https://www.graefensteiner-land.de E-mail: tourist@graefensteiner-land.de
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