Deutsche Weinstraße hiking trail

The starting point is Bockenheim at the House of the Deutsche Weinstraße. The Deutsche Weinstraße hiking trail is continuously marked with the green grape symbol on a white background. Following this from here, you walk through vineyards to reach Grünstadt-Asselheim. You hike past Grünstadt and arrive at Neuleiningen. From Neuleiningen, with its castle ruins and historic town centre, the trail continues toward Sausenheim, past the outskirts of Kleinkarlbach to Bobenheim am Berg, over Weisenheim am Berg, Leistadt (a detour to the Roman Villa Weilberg is worthwhile) to Bad Dürkheim (worth seeing: St. Michael’s Chapel, the giant Dürkheim wine barrel, spa park with graduation tower).

From Bad Dürkheim going south, you first reach Wachenheim an der Weinstraße. Past Deidesheim, a detour to the historic town centre with its renowned wineries is worthwhile. The entire town was declared a highlight of wine culture. More on: the Pfalzblick forest tavern with views, further over Königsbach to Gimmeldingen. Through the wine village of Haardt, down and through the town centre to the main station. The hike continues over the railway overpass at the station, straight up the stairs, through Hambach to the outskirts of Diedesfeld. There is a climb here to Hambach Castle (cradle of German democracy).

After your visit to Hambach Castle, you reach the picturesque wine village of St. Martin. After a short, steep climb to Kropsburg then on to Villa Ludwigshöhe and Rietburg ruins. From here you have a wonderful view over the sea of vines. Then you continue through hilly vineyard terrain and picturesque wine villages, first to Weyher and then to Burrweiler. The trail continues over Gleisweiler to Frankweiler. From Albersweiler, we reach Siebeldingen to the east on a foot/cycle path, then pass through Birkweiler and Ranschbach, through Leinsweiler (worth seeing: the Slevogthof) and Eschbach (great view from Madenburg) to Klingenmünster (great view from the Landeck castle ruins). We leave Klingenmünster and take the final ascent to Gleiszellen-Gleishorbach. The old vintner’s lane in Gleiszellen invites you to enjoy a meal of typical Palatinate cuisine.

You turn right behind Gleishorbach and remain on the Deutsche Weinstraße hiking trail, which bypasses Pleisweiler-Oberhofen and then leads down to Bad Bergzabern. From here, the Wine Route hiking trail runs through the spa park, at the end of which is a large information board. Over Dörrenbach and Oberotterbach to Schweigen-Rechtenbach to the German Wine Gate. This is the final point of the Deutsche Weinstraße hiking route. The nearest station is on the Alsace side in Wissembourg. You can reach it directly marked by a yellow stripe or red circle on white background. With the regional train, you can return to your starting point of your hike.