Hiking Trail recommended route

Altschloß-Pfad

Hiking Trail · Pfalz Open
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    The „Altschlossfelsen“ sandstone formation (“old castle rocks”) has not only been classified as a natural and cultural monument but is also the highlight of the tour and lends its name to the picturesque path. The name originates from a castle which had been built on the rock towers many hundreds of years ago but it long ago fell to ruins.
    Open
    moderate
    Distance 10.2 km
    2:45 h
    164 m
    164 m
    394 m
    274 m
    The „Altschlossfelsen“ sandstone formation (“old castle rocks”) has not only been classified as a natural and cultural monument but is also the highlight of the tour and lends its name to the picturesque path. The name originates from a castle which had been built on the rock towers many hundreds of years ago but it long ago fell to ruins. Visitors are overwhelmed by the ledge and its 4 towers - with its length of about 1.5 kilometres and its height of up to 35 metres. Bizarre forms of stone, breath-taking rock overhangs and diffuse colours constantly changing all the time during daytime captivate and fascinate every viewer. The 10 kilometres long premium hiking trail which takes you around this stunning rocky massif is a very pleasant hiking tour with a moderate ascent. Along the Franco-German border, you walk through wild romantic floodplains and varied mixed forests along the “stream without frontiers”. After a short ascent, hikers catch sight of this unique wonder of nature on the Brechenberg mountain. On the way back you will walk underneath the hollow rocks, along the narrow “Sittelpfad” path which leads to the pond of Eppenbrunn. Here the hiker arrives at the approved climatic spa of Eppenbrunn. Walking through the leisure park of the village being accompanied by the splashing of Eppenbrunn creek the hiker will finally return to his starting point. 
    Profile picture of David Hoffmann
    Author
    David Hoffmann
    Update: April 06, 2023
    Difficulty
    moderate
    Overall difficulty
    moderate

    Derived from the technical difficulty and the stamina requirements.

    Experience
    Landscape
    Highest point
    394 m
    Lowest point
    274 m
    Best time of year
    Jan
    Feb
    Mar
    Apr
    May
    Jun
    Jul
    Aug
    Sep
    Oct
    Nov
    Dec

    Track types

    Asphalt 2.33%Path 0.71%Unknown 96.94%
    Asphalt
    0.2 km
    Path
    0.1 km
    Unknown
    9.8 km
    Show elevation profile

    Safety information

    Although the premium hiking trails have been signposted well so that nobody should get lost we recommend that you should always take a hiking map with you for safety reasons - for instance to find a safe place during a thunderstorm or in case of an emergency.  

    Especially in autumn, watch out for uneven ground, roots, stones or holes which might be covered by fallen leaves. It is still possible that even some time after a heavy storm trees might topple or branches might fall down. Especially in adverse weather conditions the near-natural paths may be slippery and muddy. Account should be taken of such deterioration when hiking. Not all the rocks or steep drop-offs have been secured by ropes or protected by hand rails. Sometimes surefootedness will be required. If you feel that some paths might not be suited for you please make a detour.

    Please do not forget to take sunscreen and your ID with you.

    Tips and suggestions

    Fremdenverkehrsbüro Pirmasens-Land

    Bahnhofstr. 19

    66953 Pirmasens

    Tel. 06331-872135, Fax 06331-872100

    www.urlaubsregion-pirmasens.land

     

    Start

    Himbaumstr. 22, 66957 Eppenbrunn (279 m) Koordinaten: Geogr. 49.115154 N 7.554039 E UTM 32U 394484 5441263
    Coordinates:
    DD
    49.116285, 7.549979
    DMS
    49°06'58.6"N 7°32'59.9"E
    UTM
    32U 394190 5441395
    w3w 
    ///tasers.unclaimed.granny

    Destination

    Himbaumstr. 22, 66957 Eppenbrunn

    Turn-by-turn directions

    The tour starts at the new forest parking lot of the hotel-restaurant Kupper. Follow the woodland path „stream without frontiers” heading west for about 600 metres.  Then turn left into the peaceful valley of Martelbachtal which is surrounded by mature mixed forest - our main species of oak, beech, spruce, douglas fir and pine. The small brook Martelbächlein accompanies you for about 350 metres on the left hand-side before you cross it and continue to follow the small brook upstream for about another 2 kilometres. After about 3 kilometres you will reach the “Helmut-Kohl hiking trail” which you continue to follow for about 100 metres to the right - now you are at the Franco-German border. If you now leave the old castle path on the right hand-side you can walk for about 10 minutes on the French side until you get to marvel at „Diana goddess of the hunt“ from Roman times - carved into the rock. Unfortunately the picture has been exposed to the elements and is a bit worn out today but the village of Roppeviller is about to restore it. Please return to the old castle path. After a small ascent you will reach the old castle rocks after about 1 kilometre. Don’t forget to briefly leave the path on the left hand-side to get to the top of the rocky massif. You will only need about 3 minutes to get to the marvelous lookout with four resting benches and two tables. Weather permitting, you will have a beautiful view over the nature park of the Palatinate Forest and northern Vosges. Then you return to the old castle path and follow the 1.5 kilometres long rocky massif named “old castle rocks” which is the longest bunter sandstone formation in Rhineland-Palatinate! 

    After a small descent you will once more cross the Helmut-Kohl trail (there is another chance to sit down for a while) and after ascending for another 2 kilometres, you will get to the so-called “hollow rocks”. If you look downhill, you will see the former customs houses above the Eppenbrunn pond. When you get to these houses, please turn right in direction of Spiessweiher pond and then again after about 200 metres please turn left to reach the so-called "Sittelpfad" path, which was named after the former forester Sittel who had the path laid out.  If you walk further downhill you will get to the pond path which runs parallel to the Eppenbrunn pond. Continue to follow this path to the left-hand side for about 1 kilometre and you will get to the village of Eppenbrunn in immediate proximity of the Vita Natura clinic. Then first turn right, then left into Weiherstraße and after another 150 metres turn left again to enter the leisure park. Walk along the Eppenbrunn brook and the Himbaumstraße can be accessed via the parking lot of the Waldesruh hotel and restaurant. After about a distance of 10.7 kilometres and a pleasant 3-hours' hike you will finally reach the parking lot of hotel Kupper again. If you want to grab a bite or have a drink you may choose from the beer garden or the Jagdstube (hunter's room) of hotel Kupper (open daily, no day off!). There are three other taverns/restaurants in Eppenbrunn. One is the "Sängerklause" (closed on Mondays), the "Weinbistro Hollerith" (closed on Tuesdays) as well as the hotel-restaurant "Waldesruh" (closed on Tuesdays). Eppenbrunn also has a bakery and a petrol station.

    Public transport

    Von Pirmasens Bahnhof mit dem Bus 255 nach Eppenbrunn

    Directions

    Navigationspunkt: Himbaumstr. 22, 66957 Eppenbrunn

    Parking

     Parkeren

     

    Parkeerplaats Hotel Kupper 

    Coordinates

    DD
    49.116285, 7.549979
    DMS
    49°06'58.6"N 7°32'59.9"E
    UTM
    32U 394190 5441395
    w3w 
    ///tasers.unclaimed.granny
    Get there by train, car, bike, or on foot!

    Equipment

    You will require sturdy shoes, appropriate clothing for weather conditions, sun and rain protection as well as a sufficient supply of food and drinks is indispensable - in case there are no (open) shops or places to stop and grab a bite to eat. Although the entire way is signposted well you should always take a hiking map with you for safety reasons.

    Similar routes nearby

    • Eulenfels-Tour in Eppenbrunn
    • Grenzweg Eppenbrunn
    • Map / Helmut-Kohl-Wanderweg
      Helmut-Kohl-Wanderweg
    • Trulber Sand Bunny Tour
    • Krappen(höhle)-Tour
     These suggestions were generated by our system
    Status
    Open
    Difficulty
    moderate
    Overall difficulty
    moderate

    Derived from the technical difficulty and the stamina requirements.

    Distance
    10.2 km
    Duration
    2:45 h
    Ascent
    164 m
    Descent
    164 m
    Highest point
    394 m
    Lowest point
    274 m
    Round trip Refreshment stops available Family-friendly Geological highlights

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