Palatinate Almond Path Stage 05 Edenkoben to Birkweiler

The path begins in the Edenkoben town center along Kurpfalzsaal by the Wine Route heading south. At Schafsplatz, the Almond Path follows the Wine Route to the right and after the Sparkasse to the left, then leaves the Wine Route to the right into Poststraße. The street passes the Edenkoben Tourist Office and then meets Landauer Weg. Continue on Landauer Weg to the left and shortly after, at the roundabout, turn right onto the service road next to Villastraße, the venue of the Edenkoben Almond Mile, heading towards Villa Ludwigshöhe. Now it’s time to stroll under almond trees with a view of the villa, which King Ludwig I had built in the 19th century as his summer residence. Today the villa houses a permanent exhibition of the impressionist Max Slevogt as well as changing special exhibitions.

After about 1.5 km, the Almond Path leaves Villastraße and turns left towards Rhodt unter Rietburg, meeting the well-known Theresienstraße in the village, which the path follows to the right up to the forest edge, with a magnificent view back to Schloss Villa Ludwigshöhe and the vineyards of the Southern Wine Route. After the Hotel Alte Rebschule, the path leads left through an orchard with ecological cultivation. These trees were planted in an action for the sustainability of the charming landscape. Particular care was taken to preserve an unobstructed view of the Rhine plain – it’s worth turning around and enjoying the view! At the end of the orchard, the path turns left to Oberdorfstraße and continues with it into the wine village of Weyher. Further along Oberdorf- and Josef-Meyer-Straße through the village center and past the historic town hall, the Almond Path turns left in front of Weingut Seiler back into nature. The Almond Path continues as a high path with a beautiful panoramic view to the south. After about 600 m, the path turns left and descends briefly westward. Through the vineyards, it takes a short detour northwards and then straight towards Mittelmühle on the Modenbach. However, before the mill, the path turns left down to Hainfeld, the baroque wine village. There, the Almond Path leads right along the southwest edge of the village via Am Hofstück, Karl-Stein-Straße, and Kastanienberg, passing Weingut Kastanienberg and continuing to the German Wine Route.

Turning right, the path goes along a service road parallel to the almond tree-lined German Wine Route to the edge of the wine and pilgrimage village of Burrweiler. At the Weingut Messmer at the intersection, the Almond Path follows the Wine Route gently uphill to the village center, passing the Catholic church. The Wine Route and Almond Path turn left and lead out of the village and past the cemetery into Gleisweiler. At the village entrance, the Almond Path leaves the Wine Route and crosses Haupt- and Badstraße past the Paper Museum/Zehnthof to the Bad Gleisweiler sanatorium. Here a short walk through the subtropical park is rewarding.

The Almond Path continues along the forest edge on Lindenallee by the paper mill into the Hainbach valley a little way (those wanting to visit the forest shower should follow the path along the Hainbach further into the forest), over the Hainbach and then out again, crossing Steigerter Hof street into Frankweiler. Turning left onto Frankenburgstraße, the path goes again through the vineyards downhill to the Wine Route, which leads back into the village past the cemetery. The Almond Path turns left into Stein- and shortly after right into Müllergasse. At the end of the alley turn right onto Dorfbornstraße and follow this turning left at the fork, the Almond Path meets the Wine Route again, crosses it, and follows the opposite Trifelsstraße out of the village. The Almond Path briefly leaves the road, crosses it, and then passes through the vineyards to the Wine Route, but immediately turns right again. From here, there is a beautiful view of almond trees and over to Geilweilerhof, the JKI – Institute for Vine Breeding. The path continues left towards Geilweilerhof, which was formerly a manor owned by the Cistercian monastery Eußerthal. When the wine sales are open, you can also take a look behind the walls at the characteristic tower and the beautifully landscaped exterior area. Also, you should take the chance to taste wines of the new breeds from JKI – these are only available here for tasting (until their official approval)!

Over the parking lot, the Almond Path leads downhill through an almond alley with views of the Haardtrand and Queichtal. But it’s also worth looking back over your shoulder to enjoy the almond blossoms with Geilweilerhof in the background. The path continues downhill and meets the cemetery on the outskirts of Siebeldingen. Turning left and over Dagobertstraße, the Almond Path meets the Wine Route again. Following the Wine Route to the right, the path leads through the village, past the simultaneous church with its twisted tower spire and the town hall, and over the Queich. The Almond Path turns left into Heerstraße, crosses the railway tracks, and then runs parallel to the tracks and Kolchenbach towards Birkweiler. Continuing again on the Wine Route to the left and into Birkweiler, the end of the stage.