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Hiking Trail
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Emperors, Celts, and Romans: Drachenfelsclub panoramic circular hiking trail
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Kaiser-Wilhelms-HöhePhoto: Stadt Bad Dürkheim, CC BY, Stadt Bad Dürkheim
Panoramic views of Bad Dürkheim, Palatinate Forest, and endless vineyards, a great picnic spot on the rock terrace of a Roman quarry, and an enchanted Celtic ring wall.
Highlights, besides small, fine places lovingly maintained by the Drachenfelsclub in the forest, include the Kaiser-Wilhelm-Höhe (picnic) with its panorama of the Palatinate Forest and Limburg monastery ruins as well as the best-preserved Roman quarry north of the Alps, the Kriemhildenstuhl, with 2,000-year-old “Roman graffiti” carved by legionaries. Sandstone from here was used for building in Worms and Mainz. Enjoy the magnificent view from the large rock platform on the sensory lounger over the town, vineyards, and the Rhine plain as far as the Odenwald and Black Forest. Don’t forget to bring a hearty Palatinate snack. The path follows the mysterious Heidenmauer, a ring wall from around 500 BC that protected the 26-hectare, possibly first city of the Palatinate. At the end awaits the “wine world wonder”, the giant barrel, the 1934 realization of the cooper Fritz Keller's dream, built from 200 fir trees, each 40 m high, processed into 178 barrel staves, each 15 m long and 15 cm thick.
UFFBASSE! - Campaign for considerate coexistence in nature
- Always behave thoughtfully, friendly, and considerately towards everyone you meet on the way.
- Respect nature, do not destroy plants, and always stay on the paths. Try to avoid excessive noise and leave the forest before dusk.
- Remember a rubbish bag for unterwegs and take your waste back home.
- Please keep your dog on a leash at all times. Other visitors and animals will thank you.
- For your own safety, observe all path closures, even on weekends.
- Park only in designated parking spaces. Leave room for rescue vehicles and agricultural machinery.
- Give priority to agricultural and forestry traffic.
Author’s recommendation
One can wonderfully relax on the panoramic double lounger above the Kriemhildenstuhl quarry.
Derived from the technical difficulty and the stamina requirements.
Track types
Rest stops
Café TempelWeinstube Zur Keschdedell
Safety information
Please leave the signage hanging for the next hikers! You can obtain it for only €2.50 at the Tourist Information Bad Dürkheim.
General information:
Especially in autumn, be aware that fallen leaves, unevenness, roots, stones, or holes might be hidden on the path. After thunderstorms or heavy rains, trees may still fall or branches may drop. In adverse weather conditions, natural paths can have muddy and slippery sections. Not all rocks or cliffs are secured with ropes or railings. Sure-footedness is required in some places. You must expect such path impairments when hiking. If you find certain path sections impassable, you should avoid them. Despite the “unmissable” marking of the premium hiking trails, we always recommend carrying a suitable map for safety reasons, so you can quickly find a safe area in case of a thunderstorm or emergency. Please observe all path closures and detours.
Danger situations:
If there is an emergency, quick help is crucial. Although mobile phones can send GPS signals, classic rescue points marked with green signs and a white cross provide the fastest help as they are accessible for rescue vehicles. Remember these points and, in an emergency, return there and provide the number on the sign when calling for help. This helps rescuers to find you quickly.
Note:
We strive to announce any closures caused by forestry work or hunting societies on this platform. However, there may be cases where trails are closed without our prior knowledge. If you unexpectedly encounter a closure or detour, please follow the instructions for your safety.
Tips and suggestions
Many monuments along this path are maintained by the Bad Dürkheimer Drachenfelsclub.
Information on all the club's buildings and facilities: www.drachenfelsclub.de
Roadbook
The start is at the fountain hall. From here we walk into the spa park. At the next opportunity, we turn right to follow the Isenach. At the end of the spa park, we turn left onto Weinstraße Nord. At the Gerberstraße junction, we go down the stairs to reach the old tanning house along the Isenach. Here we turn right and go under the B37. From here, we continue through Gartenstraße, Hinterbergstraße, Vigilienstraße, and over the stairway to the edge of the forest. The path then ascends further to the “Kaiser-Wilhelm-Höhe”. From here, you can enjoy a beautiful view over the Palatinate Forest and the Limburg monastery ruins. We continue hiking along the Heidenmauer to the Kriemhildenstuhl. The view from here is magnificent and can be enjoyed from two stacked floors. In the sign of the dragon, the path descends further to the viewpoint "Schaeferwarte". A vineyard path leads over the giant barrel (with refreshment opportunities) back to the starting point.
Café Tempel
Eichhaus
Gerberhaus
Weinstube Zur Keschdedell
Kochsruhe
Kaiser-Wilhelms-Höhe
Keltischer Ringwall Heidenmauer
Römischer Steinbruch "Kriemhildenstuhl"
Schaeferwarte
Giant barrel Bad Dürkheim
Hiking bus stop "Wurstmarktplatz"
Tourist Information Bad Dürkheim
Public transport
Public-transport-friendly
Follow the pedestrian guidance system from Bad Dürkheim train station to the Tourist Information or fountain hall, or take bus lines 485, 488, or 489 to the "Wurstmarktplatz" bus stop. From there, it’s only a few hundred meters to the fountain hall at the spa park.
Bad Dürkheim city bus timetable
Schedule information available on the websites of Bahn and Transport Associations or via the apps "DB Navigator" or "myVRN".
Get Timetable to destination
Directions
Coming from the A 650 east (direction Mannheim / Ludwigshafen):
- A 650 towards Bad Dürkheim
- Follow the sign Bad Dürkheim spa grounds/Saline/Salinarium
- After about 5 km, the Bad Dürkheim town sign
- On the right side a hill with a small chapel, on the left side the graduation tower
- After the graduation tower, you will see a large parking lot, the "Wurstmarktplatz"
- At the roundabout, turn left into the parking lot
- Starting point at the southern end of the plaza (Schlossgartenstraße towards the spa park)
Coming from the B 37 from Kaiserslautern:
- B 37 straight into Bad Dürkheim, past the giant barrel to the Wurstmarkt roundabout
- At the roundabout, turn right into the parking lot
- Starting point at the southern end of the plaza (Schlossgartenstraße towards the spa park)
Parking
At the Wurstmarktplatz (mostly paved) Bad Dürkheim, St. Michaels-Allee
Please park only in designated parking spaces and always keep access routes for emergency vehicles and work paths in the forest and vineyards clear. Designated motorhome parking spots are explicitly available for overnight camper and caravan stays here.
Coordinates
Author’s map recommendations
1. Map “Hiking between forest and wine”
2. Pietruska Verlag (Ed.): Bad Dürkheim and surroundings 1 : 25,000: Hiking, cycling, and recreational map with main hiking trails, cycling routes, sights, and rescue points
Both maps available at:
Tourist Information Bad Dürkheim
Kurbrunnenstraße 21c
67098 Bad Dürkheim
Tel.: 06322 935 4500
info@bad-duerkheim.de
Book recommendations for this region:
Equipment
For our hiking routes we recommend the following standard equipment:
- Sturdy footwear
- Weather-appropriate clothing
- Sun and rain protection
- Sufficient supply of food and drinks, as not everywhere there are refreshment or shopping opportunities available or open.
- Although the paths are very well marked throughout, it is advised for safety reasons to always carry an appropriate hiking map so that, for example, in the event of a thunderstorm or emergency, you can quickly find a safe area.
Localization
Derived from the technical difficulty and the stamina requirements.
User Questions