Leininger Panorama Trail

We start the approximately 20 km long Leininger panoramic circular hiking trail at the marketplace in Hettenleidelheim. The path leads along the street past the swimming pool to Lauberweg towards the “burial mounds” in the Wattenheim district. After crossing the A6 motorway bridge, we immediately meet the “Leininger hiking path” near the former guesthouse “Waldesruh”. We now hike towards “Hetschmühle” into the Amsel valley. At the height of the waterworks, we turn left and reach the sports field in Wattenheim via an ascending forest path.

Along Hochgerichtsstraße - Speyerer Straße, we then come across the former “Landgasthof Holz”. We follow a section of Leiningerstraße to the right but turn left where it bends right into the valley in the “Keckenhütte” development area. Our hiking route now takes us on a well-passable farm track directly to “Nackterhof”, belonging to the municipality of Neuleiningen. On this section, you have a magnificent view of Altleiningen Castle, which can be seen on the opposite mountain side to the right.

After passing through Nackterhof, we walk down the hill into the Ortsgemeinde Tiefenthal. At the entrance to the town, we turn right above the sports grounds of TSG Tiefental and walk on the farm track towards the state road Tiefenthal-Neuleiningen. This state road is crossed, and we now come to a wonderful nature reserve and sandstone area over the so-called Binsenplatz. Upon reaching the existing sandstone works, we walk on the paved road to the next turning, where the hiking path then leads left down into the valley. From here, you have a very beautiful panoramic view to Donnersberg. Passing a natural monument with unique flora, we now reach the former railway line Hettenleidelheim - Ebertsheim, which has since been dismantled. The railway embankment is crossed, and we walk between the embankment and the Seltenbach to the former Tiefenthal train station and after a right turn to the country inn “Zur Seltenbach”. After the inn, we follow a section of the street, then shortly before the former visitor mine Reindl-Stollen, the path turns left and leads into the well-known Erdekaut landscape protection area with its countless small ponds and pools, bushes, trees, and unique flora and birdlife. The still standing hoisting towers for clay extraction also characterize the landscape. A longer stay is recommended here to explore many sights.

After crossing the federal road between Hettenleidelheim and Eisenberg, we continue towards the former landfill of the Donnersberg district. At the height of the landfill, we turn left and reach the Catholic church in Hettenleidelheim on a farm track after crossing the street “In den Beeten”. In Hettenleidelheim, there is a local history museum on Hauptstraße that can be visited by prior appointment. Many devices needed for clay mining - whether above or below ground - are exhibited here and give visitors an insight into the often hard work of the miners.

By the shortest route - either via Hauptstraße or Friedhofstraße/Schulwiesengraben - we return to our starting point, the marketplace.