Pfälzer Mandelpfad stage 04 Neustadt to Edenkoben

The stage starts at the upper end of the pedestrian zone in Neustadt an der Weinstraße. A short stretch towards the station and then turn right over the railway tracks via the so-called Zwockelsbrücke. The Hambacher stairway leads up to Maxburgstraße. Following Maxburgstraße, the path reaches an intersection and turns right onto Weinstraße. After about 400 m, the Mandelpfad leaves Weinstraße and turns left onto Diedesfelder Weg, which leads out into the Neustadt vineyards. This path passes the outskirts of Neustadt-Hambach, the Hambach cemetery and the outdoor pool, crosses Mittelhambacher Straße, and then leads, parallel to Weinstraße, to Neustadt-Diedesfeld.

Follow Weinstraße to the town center and then turn right at the Diedesfeld community hall onto Zum Klausental. After passing the last houses of Diedesfeld, the Mandelpfad turns left and leads to the outskirts of Maikammer-Alsterweiler. Just before the development of the wine village begins, the path turns right. It continues zig-zagging through the large vineyard area "Mandelhöhe". The name recalls the field name "in den Mandeläckern" already mentioned in the 16th century. At that time, the Bishop of Speyer promoted the cultivation of almonds as an important fruit and had whole fields planted.

The path leads past the "Flurkreuz im unteren Grund" and the "Bildstock im Kalkofen," over a green strip between the vines to the Deutsche Weinstraße hiking trail, past a wonderful picnic spot with a fantastic view, to the Kalmithöhenstraße, which here is lined with pink-blossoming almond trees. Cross these, past the Alster fountain and over the Alsterweilerbach. Now it goes downhill with a beautiful view over the vineyards to Maikammer and into the Upper Rhine Graben through the vineyards, between the wine villages of Maikammer and St. Martin. Along this section, you can also admire white blossoming almond trees. Pass by a group of pink blossoming almond trees to the "Fünf Wunden Kreuz," and over Sankt-Martiner-Straße on the Zehnmorgenweg to the Kropsbach. Here the Mandelpfad turns right and follows the stream about 100 m to reach the bridge and cross the stream.

Then it goes straight uphill, following Dalbergweg through the vineyards. At Überfeldweg (tree with bench), the path turns left. A quick look back opens the view of Hambach Castle. To the west, the Kropsburg can be seen. The path continues eastwards. After about 500 m, it turns left and the next opportunity immediately right again. Straight ahead the path descends the Heiligenberg. On the field path running parallel to L512/Weinstraße, the Mandelpfad passes the cemetery and continues on Friedhofstraße to Edenkoben. A short stretch along Sankt-Martiner-Straße to Weinstraße and then straight on this into the town center, past the Museum of Viticulture and Local History, and down a traffic light intersection into the inner city, to the end of the stage at the Kurpfalzsaal.