SEVEN CASTLE TOUR

Mankind obviously needs superlatives. We choose one of the meaningful: 7 castles on a single day hike would be difficult to beat. However, if only the record sake laces your boots, you miss that the beauty of this tour is not dependent on the magic seven. Better is to enjoy the Palatine-Alsatian scene change, the quite hefty climbs and of course every one of all the 12 and 13 Century built castles in their distinctiveness.

In the center of Schönau you will find a table for orientation and the signs to Wegelnburg [Red-Yellow bar until Maidenbrunnen (Maiden fountain). The long rise runs always on the south side of Sindelsberg in an easterly direction to the crossing at the Kaiser Wilhelm shelter. A narrow trail continues up to the Wegelnburg (572 m), the highest castle in the Palatinate. From here we see not only up to the northern Palatinate Forest and the Black Forest, but also to our next destinations Hohenbourg and Löwenstein, which are almost the at same height and are therefore in sight continuously and with little descends and ascends. Just in a yoke between Wegelnburg and Hohenbourg near the Maiden Well we cross the border to France, where we will hike during the next hours. The ruin Hohenburg (High Castle 553 m) offers a very nice observation deck with panoramic views over the Rhine valley and the northern Vosges and impresses with well-preserved details of castle ruins. a few minutes further south are the ruins of Löwenstein, which was destroyed in 1386, so that we find only a few remnants. Here was the home of the infamous robber baron Lindenschmidt, who met his end on a gallows in Frankenthal (the castle is therefore also called Lindenschmidt). From the rock platform, we have an excellent view: below us on a grassy plateau lies the Gimbelhof, a popular excursion restaurant, in the west impresses the ruin of Fleckenstein, in the northwest we see a ridge with the striking Langenfelsen (long rock), over which we will descend to Fleckenstein. The entry to this way is not easy to find: It starts as a fairly non-distinct path a few meters to the west of a small platform beneath the Löwenstein [Red triangle to Fleckenstein or black and white logo of the German-French-Castle Way]. After a short wider path follows the fillet piece of the descend, a very interesting rocky path. This passes the Langenfelsen with its many climbing routes on its south side and leads directly to the forester's house Fleckenstein (P'tit spot), where since 2002 an information center with bistro is housed. Located right next are the ruins of Fleckenstein (338 m), which was built on a 92 meters long and 40 meters high, but only 8 m wide rock and was therefore considered to be impregnable. The castle can be seen in contrast to the others only against admission. Now we get down to the west side into the low-lying valley of the Sauer [red-white-red stripes or black and white logo of Castle Way], this way is a little more comfortable than the Vosges Club marked red rectangle. Near the village of Hirschtal we cross the street and creek, and then follow to the left hand an upwardly sloping path [red diamond until Froensburg]. On the south and west flank of the Fuchsberg (Fox mountain) we come -at last slightly descending - to the boldly built Froensbourg (350 m) on a narrow cliff and with a rock tower. We remain in the chosen direction and take a path leading diagonally upwards [Red bar or black and white logo of the castle path to Wasigenstein]. This soon leads to a wide forest road, where we go briefly to the left and pay close attention to the connection path that starts at an eye-catching bright rock plateau. Through this beautiful beech forest with views back to Froensburg we come to a forest path, which we leave after about 150 meters and turn to the left in favor of a heather path that leads to crossing at the Col de Hichtenbach (357 m, with shelter). There we keep to the left, run for a while on a level road and then uphill on a footpath. From another crossing we walk a few minutes north of the Almenfels on a wide path until an easily overlooked path on the left with a sign posted branches to the Zigeunerfelsen (Gypsy Rock, Rocher des Tziganes, 470 m). This can be climbed with the help of a very airy staircase and offers an instructive view into the near Alsatian environment.

Descending we come to a small street where we can look down at a power line to the small French scattered settlement Wengelsbach. After a few minutes on the street to the right [Red bar or black and white logo of the castle path to Wasigenstein] we are on the trail parking lot on the Klingelfelsen (383 m, Bell Rock). We come across a rocky path with a lot of pine roots to split ruins Wasigenstein (340 m), the higher part of the castle we climb on airy steep stairs. We are at a venue of the 9th Century Waltharilied whose dramatic finale plays in Wasgau. Close to the Wasigenstein according to the legend Walther of Aquitaine crossed blades (swords) with the Frankish king Gunther and his uncle Hagen.

From the Wasigenstein we climb up to the crossroads at the Col de Maimont [Red- White-Red bar], where half left a trail starts [Red diamond until Blumenstein], which leads at mid-height around the historically significant mountain Maimont to the last ruin, the silent Blumenstein (361 m). From there we walk south [Blue-White bar] to the crossing Wengelsbacher Hals (neck) and then down right [Red Cross] to the pretty Alsatian village of Wengelsbach (with restaurant). After the obligatory stop here we stroll highly satisfied thorugh the Wengelsbacher valley to Schönau.