Veldenz Hiking Trail - Entire route (Burg Lichtenberg - Veldenz Castle in Lauterecken) - Leading Quality Trail - Best of Europe

The Veldenz Hiking Trail starts directly at Burg Lichtenberg – marked with a large "Veldenz Gate".

Before the hike, it is worthwhile to plan time for a visit to the impressive and worthwhile castle complex with its museums.

Burg Lichtenberg remains in view for a long time along the hiking trail. Behind the heights of Körborn, the path slowly descends and soon after Ruthweiler we reach the district town of Kusel, the home of tenor Fritz Wunderlich.

From here, the trail ascends again to Blaubach – the climb is rewarded with a panoramic view from Ödesberg over Kusel. And now everyone understands why this landscape is called "Palatinate Highlands".

We descend to Erdesbach and reach on the next hill the typical dry grasslands of the Wartekopf Nature Reserve. We follow the natural path over the Brückenberg towards Rathsweiler and after the Kemmelsberg above Niederalben we can see the next highlight of this tour on the opposite valley side – the "Mittagsfels".

Past the Horbach Pottery (Christoffelsmühle), then along the Steinalp, we cross the road to Niederalben after the sports field, keep left and follow the road up to the cemetery and turn left again.

On the ascending rocky path, the hiker will find an impressive volcanic rock formation and fantastic views of the "Steinalp Loop". Protected plants like the Pasqueflower bloom here in spring. One should take time here to enjoy this breathtaking natural landscape.

After passing through the beautiful village of Glanbrücken, the hiking trail leads on quiet paths back up to the heights, where the effort is rewarded with magnificent views.

After Nerzweiler, above Aschbach, the Palatinate Ridgeway, another quality trail, crosses the Veldenz Hiking Trail. Via the Palatinate Ridgeway you reach the small town Wolfstein.

Through a wonderful forest where you can feel the peace and quiet, we come to the Lauter Valley, to the Ziegelhütte. After passing under the B 270, the Veldenz Hiking Trail runs through the Veldenz village Heinzenhausen and winds past old vineyard walls and vineyards up to Hohenöllen.

Here opens a view into the Lauter valley to the "Lauter Loop", which scores with its magnificent outlook.

The hiker now crosses the Sulzbach valley and reaches the Hostätterhof, impressive in its size (cattle breeding), belonging to the municipality of Einöllen. Through a small wood and fields, with many distant views, we arrive at the Ausbacherhof.

Two agricultural family businesses with direct marketing as well as an educational and adventure farm invite you to linger. On the now varied section around the Steinkopf, you can really escape everyday life.

We reach Reipoltskirchen, walk through the village to the Water Castle and to the Sculpture Path, which leads once around the castle. The sculptures are continually supplemented by landscape art, the "Art in the Green".

The Water Castle Reipoltskirchen has been extensively restored in recent years and is a true gem with the flooded moat and the imaginatively designed railings. It is worthwhile to visit the castle here and then stop for refreshments.

The grand "wide views" of the Palatinate Highlands, which accompany the hiker on the heights, reward the ascent to the next Veldenz village Cronenberg.

Following a small stream, we cross the Sulzbach valley again and, having reached the hill, leave the forest and approach the hut "Am Weiher" (Palatinate Forest Club local group Lauterecken) with a wonderful view over the Veldenz town Lauterecken. The hut is open on Sundays from Easter to autumn.

Now it’s only downhill, your feet almost walk by themselves to Lauterecken. A perfect destination for a beautiful hiking trail! Over the years, the old town has been lovingly renovated and there is much to discover. There are also numerous opportunities to refresh and rest: whether in the town café, the Restaurant Lauterecker Toskana or the Palatinate Hof – you are well taken care of in Lauterecken for sure.