Pälzer Keschdeweg (Palatinate Forest route)

In June, when the chestnuts - or "Keschde" as we Palatinate locals say - bloom, a light yellow band stretches along the wooded edge of the Haard and emits a tart sweet scent. This band is followed by the "Pälzer Keschdeweg" from Hauenstein in the south through Annweiler, Edenkoben, and Maikammer to Neustadt an der Weinstraße.

The Palatinate Forest route, an alternative path to the main "Pälzer Keschdeweg," leads through the chestnut forest into the Dernbach valley. From Albersweiler, the Keschdeweg runs to Dernbach and further on to the brushmaker village Ramberg. It offers various cozy places to rest (Naturfreundehaus Kiesbuckel, Dernbacher Haus, Bauernstube Hahn, Restaurant Schneider, Waldhaus Drei Buchen). From Drei Buchen and through the Modenbach valley, it goes back to the Wine Route.

From the Albersweiler-St. Johann hiking car park, we follow the Palatinate Forest route of the Pälzer Keschdeweg. Our constant companion is the trail marker of the Pälzer Keschdeweg, a green-brown chestnut on a white background, complemented by the number 3.

The path leads us northeast towards Dernbach, to the Naturfreundehaus Kiesbuckel and further along below the Orens rock to the Dernbacher Haus.

After a short rest, we reach the Dernbach hiking car park, known especially for its orchard meadows. The officially recognized tourist community invites you to relax away from the hustle and bustle of everyday life in a pleasant atmosphere. For example, visit the early Gothic Catholic church, including 14th-century frescoes, the Marian grotto, and the wooden pulpit from the 16th century in the Protestant church. Numerous information boards in town explain interesting and noteworthy things, including the geographical longitude of Dernbach directly on the 8th meridian. We immediately turn right again onto the forest road.

The Palatinate Forest route of the Pälzer Keschdeweg then continues over the Galgenberg and past the natural monument Keschdebusch towards the brushmaker village Ramberg. Anyone wanting to take a detour will find the Brushmaker Museum with an original exhibition of a Ramberg brush dealer from ca. 1800 to around 1970. During an expert guided tour, you learn all about the manufacturing, trade, and distribution of brooms and brushes. Ramberg's gastronomy offers variety and Palatinate coziness.

Back on the trail, the Palatinate Forest route of the Pälzer Keschdeweg passes the natural monument Keschdebusch continuing to the Drei Buchen trail junction. The forest house of the same name invites you to rest after the climb. Nearby is also the Meistersel ruin, one of the oldest rock castles in the Palatinate, probably built as early as the Salian era.

Through the Modenbach valley, we finally reach the Southern Wine Route. At the trail junction below the Schweizer Haus, if you follow the red dot further, you reach Weyher after about 1.5 km, where you have access to public transport. If we follow the main route north at the Schweizer Haus near Weyher, we reach Edenkoben and Neustadt an der Weinstraße. Heading south, we return to Albersweiler St. Johann, our starting point, or continue to Annweiler am Trifels and Hauenstein.

You can also perfectly hike the Keschdeweg with the Palatinate Forest variant in 2-day stages. Hike on the first day from Annweiler am Trifels to Dernbach or Ramberg, on the second day then continue to Edenkoben.