Naturdenkmal Bruderfelsen - Wahrzeichen der Stadt Rodalben

The Bruderfelsen is the landmark of the town of Rodalben and towers high above the municipal administration and tourist information centre. The quickest way to reach it is from Baumbuschstraße via the Otto Stolz Trail. It is located on the Bärenhöhlentour (Bear Cave Tour) and on the approx. 44 km long Rodalber Felsenwanderweg (Rodalber Rock Hiking Trail), which leads hikers past over 120 impressive red sandstone rock formations and is considered one of the most beautiful circular hiking trails in the Palatinate. The Bruderfelsen with its cosy seating areas, which are perfect for picnics, is one of the absolute highlights of this circular tour. It is a typical hillside rock where weathering and thousands of years of erosion have shaped the visible part into two mighty sandstone pillars that look like two brothers. Of course, it also has its own history and legend:

‘A long, long time ago, a young, glowing-eyed girl, a gypsy named Silja, lived with the herbalist Bille, who lived in a cottage in the Langenbach district near the Bärenhöhle. When the two brothers Reinolf and Gerbrand, two young, strong farm lads, once drove their herd of cows past the hut and caught sight of the beautiful girl, they were both smitten. The look in Silja's eyes had bewitched and captivated them both. From that hour onwards, the brother watched over his brother with jealousy. Resentment and envy were the brothers' bad companions. When Reinolf woke up one night and found Gerbrand's camp deserted, he immediately rushed into the Langenbach valley to Bille's croft and saw his brother with Silja. He lay in wait for him at the edge of the forest, in a place where he could clearly see the path his brother had to take back. Full of hatred, the two brothers stood opposite each other, body to body, each ready to force the other down. They were both so full of hatred for each other that they were both capable of fratricide. The duel lasted a long time, with neither losing. But then suddenly the icy cold poured up from the earth and over them, freezing them in place. The battle was over and since then, the Bruderfelsen, two stone pillars that look like brothers, has stood on this spot above the Rodalbtal valley. However, the two brothers were never seen again.’

Opening times

Freely accessible all year round.