This hike was seriously more impressive than I could have ever imagined! It's mind-blowing that I can drive an hour away through a quaint German village and hop on a trail filled with castle ruins. We don't have these experiences in the US, and I will surely miss European hiking trails when I return next year. For now, I will soak up every moment!
My first order of business will be to warn you all that this hike isn't necessarily an easy one. Where do you usually find castles? On top of a hill. To add to that difficulty, the Wegelnburg Ruin is the highest fortified castle in the Palatinate. So, you are hiking to the tippy top! However, the views are 100% worth it, and no one says you can't take your time!
Note: You cross into France during this hike, so bring your passport.
Secondly, I would like to thank Kaiserslautern and Beyond for sharing this hike and all the details in her post! She's the one I go to now when I want to go hiking! Just pop "hike" into the search bar on her page, and voilà!
We drove through the German village of Nothweiler and tried to find the parking lot she suggested (Parking Gratuit Gimbelhoff), but I had lost signal, so I couldn't reference her post to see that she had given extra instructions on where to park. Therefore, we ended up parking at the Wanderparkplatz Nothweiler (remember, in Germany, parkplatz = parking lot).
So be aware of that! Prepare just in case you do lose signal. Download/Screenshot the map before you go and save the instructions! We went on an "adventure," which added at least an hour or two to our hike (whoops).
If you've ever hiked with me, this is an ongoing joke. I somehow always manage to go off trail or end up on a completely different hike than we had planned, probably due to my horrific navigational skills and sense of direction.
I find it funny... Not sure about everyone else, though... (LOL)
Honestly, when we first began, I wasn't all that impressed. I've seen prettier German forests. However, keep going. You'll be so happy you did once you get to your first castle!
For us, that was Wegelnburg. It's under construction but was still accessible when we went.
As I said earlier, it is the highest fortified castle in the Palatinate, and the views are stunning.
I was blessed with beautiful blue skies and clouds yesterday!
My guy friends humored me on this one. They are visiting from the US for the next few months, forcing them into many more photos against their will (insert evil laugh here).
Take a moment to really appreciate the step back in time.
If you're a geography person (I'm not), you can find these useful tools to understand better what areas you are viewing from up top.
Be sure to take small moments to appreciate the beauty nature will provide along the way!
I try to be an "artistic" photographer every now and then...
Next up on our path was Hohenbourg! A simple 15-minute walk away.
Oh, look! Another uphill climb! Who would've thought?
Now, this is where we began to see a bit sketchier of climbing equipment. I'd say it's about time these wooden ladders are replaced.
I mean... Did we die?
No... But...
Another magnificent view when you climb to the top!
Then off to Loewenstein! Less than 10 minutes away.
Ugh... Take me back!
I'll pass on crossing this rotting bridge again, though. *shudder*
Because I didn't follow the correct path from the beginning, we didn't make it to Fleckenstein. We were a little worried we wouldn't make it back in time before sunset. So maybe I'll try again another day!
However, there are three others in the area that I could go on too. These were found on the maps provided along the trails.
Enjoy the quick video I made above of our adventures!
Here is the last bit of advice! Stop by the Pizzeria Deluxe on your way! After our hike, I tried making it home to eat, but my food cravings eventually gave in when I saw this restaurant on the side of the road. Everything was delicious, and the staff friendly. They have a generic Italian menu with an emphasis on pizza (duh).
Additional Information:
Komoot Link:
AllTrails Link:
Wanderparkplatz Nothweiler:
Parking Gratuit Gimbelhoff:
Kaiserslautern & Beyond's Informational Post:
Pizzeria Deluxe:
Weißenburger Str. 17B, 66994 Dahn
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