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The cycle route named after the "Palatinate missionary" Pirminius runs through his area of activity from the French border in the southwest to the southeastern foothills of the Palatinate Forest.
The wide Westrich landscape, open towards the Bliesgau, shapes the western half. The eastern half - after crossing the hill of Pirmasens - is more defined by the seemingly endless forests of the Palatinate Forest Nature Park. From Hornbach to Zweibrücken, the route follows a former railway track, passing Schlossplatz and Rosengarten in Zweibrücken. Afterwards, it leads calmly and gently through the Schwarzbach Valley to Thaleischweiler-Fröschen. From here, it finally goes uphill towards Höhfröschen and then continues to the Pirminius city of Pirmasens. After leaving the urban area, the route descends to Münchweiler an der Rodalb, passing the well-kept Bürgerpark and the town center with the parish church. From there, the path leads through the romantically wild Waschtal with its waterfall and the idyllic Annaweiher towards Hauenstein, before ending in Wilgartswiesen after a small loop via Spirkelbach.
UFFBASSE! - Campaign for considerate coexistence in nature
Fire & smoking - Lighting fires, smoking, and grilling are strictly prohibited and must be avoided in the forest! Fires and thus major damage to nature and wildlife can only be prevented this way.
Be considerate - Always behave in a forward-looking, friendly, and considerate manner towards everyone you meet on the way. This is especially important on agricultural roads where farmers and foresters also work on weekends.
Nature protection - Stay on marked paths and avoid unnecessary noise when you are in nature. Leave the forest at the latest at dusk to avoid disturbing the rhythm of nocturnal animals.
Picnic & litter - Bring a rubbish bag for the way and take your waste back home. Use only the furnished rest areas for breaks & picnics.
More information at: www.pfalz.de/uffbasse
Author’s recommendation
Those who cannot manage the ascent to Pirmasens can take the train one station from PS North or alternatively shorten the route via Rodalben (Palatinate Forest route).
Derived from the technical difficulty and the stamina requirements.
Track types
Rest stops
Waldhaus StarkenbrunnenGaststätte Forsthaus Beckenhof
Hotel & Landgasthaus Ständenhof
Hotel Landgasthaus Ständenhof
Restaurant & Pizzeria Gusto Toscano
Restaurant Avika
Safety information
Cycling on agricultural roads - Often our cycling tours run on paths shared with others. We therefore ask for always considerate and friendly behavior. Farmers and foresters use agricultural roads through fields and forests for their everyday work, even on weekends. Due to work tasks and/or weather, the routes may occasionally be dirtier. Special caution is also required when riding through streets in and around Palatinate towns. Road closures and detours must be strictly observed.
Warning - Especially in autumn, be aware that fallen leaves on the ground may conceal unevenness, stones, or holes on the cycle path. Trees may still fall or branches drop after storms. Especially in poor and wet weather conditions, there can be muddy and slippery sections. Such route impairments must be especially expected then. Always pay attention to adapted riding behavior and always wear a helmet.
Hazard situations - In an emergency, quick help is needed. And although mobile phones can send GPS signals, it is always fastest at the classic rescue points. These are located at spots easily accessible to rescue vehicles. Remember the points with the green signs and a white cross. In emergencies, return there and give the number on the sign to your emergency call. This way rescue forces know how to find you.
Tips and suggestions
Suggestions, irregularities, or complaints? Contact us by email: radwege@lbm.rlp.de, www.radwanderland.de (responsible for infrastructure and route description).
Connections and alternative routes:
In Hornbach, besides the Pirminius Cycle Route, you can also start the Hornbach-Fleckenstein Tour towards Eppenbrunn and the European Mill Cycle Route as a circular route of about 50 km in southern direction. The city of Zweibrücken offers a change to the Southwest Palatinate Tour across the land; in Thaleischweiler-Fröschen you will also find the Sickinger Mill Cycle Route, which heads north. Münchweiler an der Rodalb lies not only on the Pirminius Cycle Route but also on the Palatinate Forest Tour and the Gräfensteiner Land Cycle Route. In Hinterweidenthal, the German-French Pamina Cycle Route Lautertal starts towards Dahn and Wissembourg to the Rhine. The Queichtal Cycle Route picks up interested parties in both Hauenstein and Wilgartswiesen for continuing travel.
Further information:
Southwest Palatinate Tourism (Palatinate Forest)
Unterer Sommerwaldweg 40-42
66953 Pirmasens
Tel. 06331/809126
Email: info@suedwestpfalz-touristik.de
Web: www.suedwestpfalz-touristik.de
Palatinate Tourism
Martin-Luther-Strasse 69
67433 Neustadt an der Weinstraße
Tel. 06321/39160
Email: info@pfalz-touristik.de
Web: www.pfalz.de
Roadbook
Requirement: The elevation of the city of Pirmasens (approx. 400 - 440 m above sea level) requires overcoming about 180 meters of elevation from both the Schwarzbach Valley (Thaleischweiler-Fröschen: 240 m above sea level) and the Rodalb Valley (Münchweiler: 275 m above sea level) with an average gradient of 5 to 12%. Both ascents run mainly on forest and agricultural roads with a few hundred meters on inner-city streets without bike lanes. Therefore, even less athletic cyclists can ride the Pirminius Cycle Route with enough (pushing) endurance and time, as there are no longer ascents before and after the "Pirmasens summit."
Route guidance:
- 41 km of forest and agricultural roads
- 6 km of cycle paths
- 22 km of inner-city streets without bike lanes
- 7 km of out-of-town streets without bike lanes
Surface qualities:
- 70 km asphalt
- 6 km of water-bound surfaces
Route overview:
- Hornbach - Zweibrücken 10 km (10 m ascent, 20 m descent): Pleasure cycling on an old railway track in the Hornbach Valley
- Zweibrücken - Thaleischweiler-Fröschen 23 km (60 m ascent, 45 m descent): On diverse routes through the wide valley of the Schwarzbach
- Thaleischweiler-Fröschen - Pirmasens - Münchweiler 20 km (250 m ascent, 220 m descent): Elevation loop (180 meters elevation, briefly over 10%) to and through the Pirminius city. The train acts as an "ascent aid" from Pirmasens North to Pirmasens main station, saving 3/4 of the elevation!)
- Münchweiler - Hauenstein - Wilgartswiesen 21.4 km (190 m ascent, 255 m descent): On own gently hilly paths through the Palatinate Forest.
Route in the cycle network: The Pirminius Cycle Route connects in the west to the Saar cycle network and via the European Mill Cycle Route establishes the connection to France. In Hinterweidenthal, it meets the Pamina Cycle Route, the Palatinate Forest Cycle Route, and the Gräfensteiner Land Cycle Route; in Hauenstein, it links with the Queichtal Cycle Route, into which it finally merges in Wilgartswiesen.
Source and further information: www.radwanderland.de.
Ausstellung Hieronymus Bock in Hornbach
Ferienhaus Schneider
Ferienwohnung Schlemmer
Camp4 Kletterzentrum
Ferienwohnung Born
Stadtmuseum Zweibrücken
Landgestüt Zweibrücken
Rosengarten Zweibrücken
Hotel Rosengarten am Park
Romantik Hotel Landschloss Fasanerie
Business-Appartement 54
Gaststätte Zum Schwarzbachtal
Wellness-Ferienhaus Felsana
Stuppy Schuhfabrik GmbH
Faustermühle
Kapellenruine Meisenbach
Heimatmuseum Thaleischweiler-Fröschen
Spielscheune
Mariengrotte Petersberg
Strecktal
Tourist Information Pirmasens
WAWI Schokowelt
Kunsthalle Neuffer am Park
Pirmasenser "Häusel"
Skulpturenpark mit Carolinensaal
Westwallmuseum Gerstfeldhöhe
Waldhaus Starkenbrunnen
Gaststätte Forsthaus Beckenhof
Wohnmobilstellplätze Forsthaus Beckenhof
E-Bike-Ladestation am Forsthaus Beckenhof
Fahrradreparatursäule beim Forsthaus Beckenhof
Felsentor
Hotel & Landgasthaus Ständenhof
Hotel Landgasthaus Ständenhof
Restaurant & Pizzeria Gusto Toscano
Bürgerpark und Bürgerhaus
Bahnhof Münchweiler an der Rodalb
Restaurant Avika
Wohnmobilstellplätze Zentrum Münchweiler
Metzgerei & Partyservice Groh
Bäckerei & Konditorei Flick & Maly
Ortsmitte von Münchweiler an der Rodalb
Rastplatz Wanderportal Sauweiher
CVJM-Freizeitheim
Waschtal mit Annaweiher, Kaltenbach und Wasserfall
Bahnhof Hinterweidenthal
Teufelstisch (Devil's Table)
Restaurant Ringhotel "Felsentor"
Dorfstübel am Schuhmuseum
German Shoe Museum Hauenstein
Public transport
Public-transport-friendly
Traveling by train:
The Southwest Palatinate is well connected by the two railway lines Zweibrücken-Landau and Kaiserslautern-Pirmasens. Trains run every hour or more frequently in all directions every day, including Saturdays, Sundays, and public holidays, with exact connections to long-distance routes. Timetable information is available via the websites of Bahn and transport associations or the apps "DB Navigator" or "myVRN".
Bicycle transport is generally allowed in regional trains in the Palatinate, charged on weekdays between 6:00 and 9:00 a.m., otherwise free of charge. Passengers, strollers, and wheelchairs have priority if space is limited.
Ideal ticket offers such as the Rhineland-Palatinate ticket also make train travel an affordable pleasure.
Public transport connections:
From Zweibrücken to Thaleischweiler-Fröschen as well as from Münchweiler at the Rodalb to Wilgartswiesen, the route runs parallel to the Saarbrücken-Zweibrücken-Landau railway line. In Pirmasens, connection to the Pirmasens-Kaiserslautern-Bingen line.
Timetable information: www.bahn.de and www.vrn.de
Get Timetable to destination
Directions
Arrival by car:
You can easily reach Southwest Palatinate by car from...
...north: via the A6 and B270
...south and east: via the A65 and B10
...west: via the A8 or A62
Parking
Free parking along the route is possible almost everywhere. Please only park in designated parking spaces and always keep access roads for emergency vehicles and work paths in the forest clear. For overnight stays in campers & caravans, only use designated motorhome parking spaces.
Coordinates
Author’s map recommendations
Available on the internet at www.outdooractive.com or www.radwanderland.de.
Map material (Southwest Palatinate cycle map, Palatinate cycle map) is also available at all tourist information offices of the district as well as from Südwestpfalz Touristik e.V.
Equipment
For our cycling tours we recommend the following equipment:
- Bike (touring bike), more gears or electric support provide more comfort on hillier tours
- Bicycle helmet
- Cycling-appropriate clothing, also for bad weather
- Bicycle bag for storing equipment and provisions
- Sunglasses or protective glasses, also protects against insects
- Smartphone with the Rhineland-Palatinate App for navigation and information on sights, dining options along the route, and more
- Essential tools and spare parts, possibly charging accessories for e-bike
- Sunscreen, especially for tours through fields and vineyards
Localization
Derived from the technical difficulty and the stamina requirements.
User Questions