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recommended route
Hiking Trail
· Pfalz
Erlenbach/Dahn - Berwartstein and Drachenfels
Günther Weinert
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Photo: Günther Weinert - Wanderfex, Günther Weinert
The circular hike opens up the area around the two castles Berwartstein and Drachenfels and leads up to the two rock formations Schlüsselfelsen and Buchkammer (Heidenberg), which offer further magnificent viewing opportunities.
The hike was published on 10.10.2024 in the Stuttgarter Nachrichten.
Berwartstein is managed; a visit is worthwhile. Below Drachenfels Castle is the Drachenfels hut, which only offers catering on certain days. Another inn along the hiking trail is the Weißensteiner Hof.
Near these two historic castles there are further castles you can explore: northeast is Lindelbrunn Castle, northwest the castle group near Dahn, and southwest the castles Wegelnburg, Hohenburg, Löwenstein, and Fleckenstein.
One of the most beautiful tours in the Wasgau is the circular hike that runs along the German-French border and makes the visit of the castle group Wegelnburg, Hohenburg, Löwenstein, and Fleckenstein possible. Furthermore, the hike passes a historic mine that can be visited. The starting point of this circular hike is the town of Nothweiler, about 9 km from Berwartstein. You can also find the tour "Nothweiler - 4 castles and 1 mine" under the keyword "Wanderfex". The image series includes a hiking sketch with all trail signs and POIs for this top tour. Here is the link:
https://www.outdooractive.com/de/wanderung/pfalz/nothweiler--4-burgen-und-1-bergwerk/109385142/
Author’s recommendation
Derived from the technical difficulty and the stamina requirements.
Track types
Safety information
Hiking the Drachenfels ruin requires sturdy footwear and surefootedness. Surefootedness is always important around rocks and ruins. Basically, the tour can be done excellently.Tips and suggestions
Other hikes that are worthwhile:
- Aurich - Idyllic Kreuzbachtal
- Bebenhausen - A monastery, a hunting lodge, and lots of Schönbuch!
- Burg Hohenneuffen - I have to go there!
- Erlenbach/Dahn - Berwartstein and Drachenfels
- Gundelsheim - Through the popular Fünfmühlental to the falconry Burg Guttenberg
- Helfenberg - Ruins and castles near and far
- Heubach/Rosenstein - Caves, views, and a ruin
- Hohenhaslach - Over the Jewish cemetery Freudental to the Pfeiferhütte
- Kleiningersheim - The church stays in the village!
- Klingenmünster - Castles, viewpoints and fountains
- Kürnbach - Old borderland between Württemberg, Hessen and Baden
- Markgröningen - Leudelsbachtal and Enztal
- Mühlacker - The Enz meanders near Mühlhausen
- Mühlbach - To the Ottilienberg pilgrimage church
- Nothweiler - 4 castles and 1 mine
- Oberöwisheim - Hollow way hike in the Kraichgau
- Ochsenbach - Over the Stromberg ridge to the Blankenhorn ruin
- Seibelseckle - To the Wildsee and the Darmstädter hut
- Solitude/Bärenschlössle - Where once the king hunted
- Untergrombach - From Michaelsberg to the Jewish cemetery
- From Lichtenstein Castle to the Nebelhöhle cave
- Wiesensteig - Fils source, Schertel cave and Reußenstein
- ... and here are more circular hikes:
https://www.outdooractive.com/de/autor/guenther-weinert-wanderfex/105872506/
Roadbook
- From Berwartstein Castle, you can first follow the well-marked hiking trail "Felsenland Sagenwelt." The trail marker shows a small black ghost on a blue background. This sign initially leads you 2.5 km to a forest clearing, from where you can see northwest the Schlüsselfels and the Heidenberg. Please note that the hiking trail makes several turns at the forked paths.
- At this fork – at rescue point 6813-498 – leave the "Felsenland Sagenwelt" hiking trail, turn sharply right, and hike north towards Weißensteiner Hof (trail marker: blue 4 on a white disc with the designation RWW Busenberg).
- At the forest edge near Weißensteiner Hof, you will find a hiking parking lot with information boards and a hiking map where you can get further information. There you will also encounter the trail marker "Busenberger Wooden Shoe Path." This sign, depicting a wooden shoe, leads you up to the rocks or viewpoints of Schlüsselfels and Buchkammerfels. Be careful around the rocks. Enjoy the wonderful view and this high plateau, then follow the wooden shoe path down the mountain to the Drachenfels hut.
- At the Drachenfels hut, you can rest extensively and then, revitalized, explore the Drachenfels. Hiking on the rock castle requires sturdy footwear and surefootedness. The return path is easy. As at the start of the route, the little ghost, symbol of the "Felsenland Sagenwelt" hiking trail, guides you …
- … past the former pilgrimage chapel of St. Gertraud and back to the starting point at Berwartstein. Pay attention to changes in direction at the forks.
Do you still have some extra energy? Then you can climb up to the "Klein Frankreich" ruin and admire Berwartstein from above.
Would you like to swim after the hike? The natural bathing lake Seehof lies in a quiet stream valley directly next to Berwartstein and is surrounded by forest. A public bathing area with a shallow sandy beach and a spacious lawn. Have fun!
Is the hike too long for you? The total distance can also be divided into two smaller circular hikes. The starting point for these can then be the forest parking lot near Weißensteiner Hof.
Looking for a striking rock hike nearby? Then this hike might interest you: https://www.outdooractive.com/de/wanderung/pfalz/lindelbrunn-von-der-ruine-lindelbrunn-nach-dimbach-mit-den/119616467/
Berwartstein Castle
Kiosk am Seehof
Seehofweiher
Kleinfrankreich
Landgasthof Weissensteinerhof
Weißensteiner Hof
Heidenpfeiler, auch Schlüsselfels genannt
Buchkammer
Wanderparkplatz Busenberg Drachenfelshütte
PWV Drachenfelshütte
Drachenfels Castle ruins
St. Gertraudenkapelle
Bushaltestelle Erlenbach
Public transport
Public-transport-friendly
Public bus service to ErlenbachDirections
Erlenbach is located on the L490Parking
Good parking directly at the castle. If it gets crowded, just park in the village of Erlenbach.Coordinates
Book recommendation by the author
https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Burg_Drachenfels_(Wasgau)
Highly recommended are the brochures:
"Felsenland Sagenweg" - http://www.verkehrsverein-dahn.de/pdf/sagenweg.pdf
"Dahner Felsenpfad" - http://www.verkehrsverein-dahn.de/pdf/felsenpfad.pdf
Author’s map recommendations
Hiking and cycling in the Dahner Felsenland, top-star map
Scale 1:25000
Book recommendations for this region:
Equipment
Hiking boots and swimwearLocalization
Derived from the technical difficulty and the stamina requirements.
User Questions