Neckarsteig

Hike from Heidelberg to Neckargemünd over around 13 km. You can begin or end the hike in Heidelberg's Old Town; the official starting or finishing point is the "Himmelsleiter" on Molkenkurweg above Heidelberg Castle. The Himmelsleiter, around 1,200 roughly hewn sandstone steps, connects the castle with Königstuhl. Anyone wishing to avoid the climb can also comfortably take the mountain railway up to Königstuhl and start the hike from there. From Königstuhl, at an altitude of 559 m, you can, in good weather, see across the Upper Rhine Plain to the Palatinate Forest. The route between Königstuhl and Neckargemünd repeatedly goes up and down. Forest tracks and narrow paths characterize the trail surface. About halfway along, the Rasthütte at Hohlen Kästenbaum invites you to take a break. From the beautifully situated Gämsberg Pavilion, there is a wonderful view of the bend in the Neckar as far as Dilsberg Castle Fortress. The trail leads over Neckarriedkopf with the shelter of the same name, from which you can look over Dilsberg. The Neckarriedkopf Hut is waking from its Sleeping Beauty slumber and is open on weekends and public holidays. A narrow path runs through the impressive Felsenmeer nature reserve with its red sandstone, typical of this region. On the edge of Neckargemünd lies Reichenstein Castle, built in the 12th century. Of the castle, probably erected at the beginning of the 13th century, only remnants of the walls can still be seen today. It stands in a fairytale setting on a plateau from which one could once look into three valleys. The end point of the stage is Altstadt S-Bahn station.

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Ascent

558 m

Descent

631 m

On the 2nd stage of the Neckarsteig, enthusiastic hikers go from Neckargemünd via Dilsberg Castle Fortress to Neckarsteinach. Neckargemünd impresses with its small but charming old town and its imposing city gate. In the upper town forest of Neckargemünd, you reach the Bockfelsen Hut. From there, you have a unique view of Neckargemünd-Kleingemünd, the Neckar bend, and Dilsberg with its fortress. The Tilly Stone, erected in the middle of the forest, commemorates the siege of Dilsberg during the Thirty Years' War by Tilly's troops. Although the trail leads around Dilsberg Castle Fortress, it is worth taking a detour through the tranquil village of Dilsberg with its castle. During a visit, you can look down from the 16 m high castle wall and see the Neckar as it meanders around the entire mountain. At the rear town wall, where a impressive peace linden once stood, a pleasant rest area invites you to take a break. The connecting path from Dilsberg to Neckarsteinach is a beautiful trail through mixed deciduous forest. In Neckarsteinach, you cross the Neckar for the first time at a weir, where you can watch the locks of Neckar shipping in operation. The numerous park benches along the Neckar promenade and the nearby restaurants with their shady beer gardens invite you to linger on the Neckar promenade. Or you can explore the four castles of the Hessian small town: Vorderburg, Mittelburg, Hinterburg, and Schadeck Castle.

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Ascent

347 m

Descent

365 m

Stage 3 of the Neckarsteig runs for 16.5 km from the town of four castles, Neckarsteinach, to Hirschhorn. A striking sight awaits you when you visit the "town of four castles" Neckarsteinach. The Hinterburg ruin, located directly on the Neckarsteig, was built around 1100. It is worth making a short detour to the Mittelburg (privately owned and open to visitors by prior arrangement) and to the ruin of Schadek Castle. The Goetheblick viewpoint is announced by a sandstone trail marker: a short side path leads to the viewpoint of the same name, from which there is a wonderful view of the Neckar Valley and Dilsberg. Nestled in magnificent mixed forest stands the Schaubild, a protective healing sign in the forest. The Red Bild stands on the border of the former Schönau Monastery with Hirschhorn. There are two legends surrounding the Red Bild: A woman gave birth to quadruplets as a result of adultery. She hid them in a basket in order to carry them to the Neckar and drown them. At the Bildstok she was caught by a forester, who saved the children. Or: an unfaithful guardian hanged himself at the Red Bild and is said to still haunt the place today. The Freischärler grave with the cross directly on the route dates back to the Baden Revolution of 1848/49. Hirschhorn Castle was founded around 1260 and expanded in the 14th century. Since it was spared major destruction, it is now in very good condition and can be visited on guided tours. The weir and lock enabled Hirschhorn to expand to the other side of the Neckar, the present-day Ersheim.

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Ascent

437 m

Descent

411 m

Stage 4 of the Neckarsteig runs for around 12.5 km from Hirschhorn to Eberbach. The Hoppe Shelter Hut, with views of the Neckar Valley, invites you to take a break. Through a clearing in the forest, you can enjoy a beautiful view down over Hirschhorn. The Stone Table was built in 1797 as a resting place for hunting parties. At that time, the view of Hirschhorn Castle was still unobstructed. On the Neckarsteig, you walk around the meander hill Tannenkopf. The Gretengrund, a stream running parallel to the Gammelsbach Valley, offers plenty of shade on hot summer days. The "Forest Classroom" initiative has settled there and serves kindergartens, schools and clubs as a base for forest experiences and forest education. A beautifully situated path above the railway line repeatedly offers views of the Neckar or of the beautiful town of Eberbach, directly on the Neckar. In Eberbach, you have the opportunity in the park running parallel to the riverside road to watch the Neckar shipping traffic and excursion boats, or to admire the impressive bronze sculptures. The entire stage is characterized by old trees.

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Ascent

418 m

Descent

419 m

The Eberbach–Neunkirchen stage, at 18 km, is the most challenging section of the Neckarsteig. Breitenstein is Eberbach’s local mountain. The “Neckarsteig” and the “Eberbacher Path of River History” merge here into a hiking trail equipped with informative educational panels. Here you can experience in an impressive way how the Neckar carved its way through the landscape over millions of years. The orchard meadows on Breitenstein also offer plenty of flora and fauna. The Ernst-Hohn Pavilion, a shelter at Schollerbuckel, is a unique viewpoint. The Neckarsteig leads to the so-called Devil’s Pulpit along narrow paths through beautiful mixed woodland. From there you can see the Rockenau quarry as well as the lock. At Rockenau Lock, the Neckarsteig crosses to the other side of the river. Stolzeneck Castle ruin was built around 1200 and, from 1284 onward, was granted as a Palatinate fief to servants of the counts palatine. After 1610, the castle and the associated castle hamlet of Krösselbach were abandoned. You pass through almost alpine terrain in the Wilder Waibelsberg area, or the Krösselbacher slope. Sure-footedness is required here. Reihersee was originally built as a feeding pond for herons. Today it is a beautiful resting place with a shelter. The tranquil village of Neunkirchen offers hikers a complete range of food supplies with its cooperative-run citizens’ market. Neunkirchen is connected to public transport by RUFtaxi. More information at: www.neckar-odenwald-kreis.de/ruftaxi+fahrplan

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Ascent

730 m

Descent

522 m

This stage covers around 18 km from Neunkirchen via Neckarkatzenbach into the Neckar Valley to Neckargerach. Magnificent mixed deciduous forests characterize the landscape. Opposite Neckargerach, the Minneburg rises on a wooded hillside. It owes its present form to the expansion in the first half of the 16th century. Today it is an imposing ruin and a popular excursion destination. From here, there is a beautiful view of the Neckar Valley. Two barbecue areas at the castle invite you to linger longer. The Mittelberg, Geotope of the Year 2018, was an incised meander hill before the Neckar broke through around 200,000 years ago and the former riverbed dried up. The former river loop is clearly visible in the landscape. Especially from the hill near Neckarkatzenbach, the “Linde viewpoint,” you can see the former original Neckar loop and get a sense of the development of such a river course. The small municipality of Neckarkatzenbach impresses with its idyllic location and the view of the Mittelberg. In Guttenbach, you walk directly along the towpath on the bank of the Neckar. A bridge for hikers, cyclists, and motorists connects Neckargerach with Guttenbach. Here, on the Neckarsteig, you cross to the other side of the river.

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Ascent

221 m

Descent

404 m

Over 13.6 km, this Neckarsteig stage takes you from Neckargerach via Margaretenschlucht to Mosbach. The Margaretenschlucht Trail is equipped with numerous information boards about geology. The hiking route runs along the railway line above, with wonderful views of the Neckar Valley and of Mittelberg, all the way to the entrance of Margaretenschlucht. It is recommended to pass through Margaretenschlucht in good weather. In rain or cold temperatures, delays can be expected, as water-rich sections have to be crossed again and again. It should also be noted that the hiking trail leads over rock steps along dangerous steep cliffs. The gorge has been under nature protection since 1940. The smaller Ludolfsklinge gorge also blends into the landscape. The Hamberg, Henschelberg and Schreckberg areas are characterized above all by species-rich meadow and juniper heaths, striking rock ledges and scree slopes, as well as richly structured forest edges and bushes. The diversity of the cultural landscape on the shell limestone soils was shaped by its former use as fields, vineyards, meadows and pastures. On the slopes, dry-stone walls made of limestone or red sandstone were once built to support the cultivation terraces. Today, the walls provide a habitat for specialized animal and plant species. Mosbach's historic old town is characterized by lovingly restored half-timbered houses and medieval streets.

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Ascent

346 m

Descent

352 m

From Mosbach via Hornberg Castle near Neckarzimmern, this Neckarsteig stage leads 13 km to the town of Gundelsheim, home of the Teutonic Order. The Neckarzimmern memorial commemorates the deportation of nearly all Jews from Baden, the Palatinate, and Saarland. It consists of a large ground sculpture in the shape of a Star of David. Hornberg Castle was the residence of Götz von Berlichingen for 45 years and was probably founded in the 11th century. Thanks to a foot and cycle bridge, the railway station is connected to the district of Haßmersheim on the other side of the Neckar. St. Michael's Chapel stands in the middle of a protected landscape area on Michaelsberg. It is considered one of the oldest church buildings in the region. The so-called Stairway to Heaven leads through the terraced vineyards of “Himmelreich” and connects Michaelsberg with the town of Gundelsheim, home of the Teutonic Order. On the “Historical Trail” through the old town, you can take a journey into the city's history. Horneck Castle can be seen from afar and is located in the immediate vicinity of the Neckar castles Ehrenberg, Guttenberg Castle, and Hornberg Castle. Together with Guttenberg Castle, Horneck Castle was an important link on the routes between Heilbronn and Heidelberg. Today, the castle complex serves as the homeland house of the Transylvanian Saxons, with an attached Transylvanian Museum dedicated to their history. The castle also houses a hotel.

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Ascent

435 m

Descent

441 m

Right along the path lies Guttenberg Castle, a late-medieval hilltop castle that has never been destroyed and has been continuously inhabited for nearly 800 years. Today, you’ll find the German Raptor Sanctuary, a castle museum, and a restaurant there. Since the 16th century, the Jewish cemetery outside Heinsheim—a district of Bad Rappenau—has been the burial site for the deceased from Bad Rappenau and 25 other Jewish communities in the surrounding area. It is one of the most impressive Jewish cemeteries in southern Germany. The former synagogue in the center of Heinsheim is also a striking testament to Jewish history. Additionally, the Bergkirche—mentioned as early as the 10th century and one of the oldest religious buildings in the region—is well worth a visit. Above Heinsheim, you’ll discover Ehrenberg Castle, whose history dates back to the 12th century. The castle in Heinsheim is now used as a hotel and restaurant. From here, you’ll repeatedly enjoy wonderful views of the terraced vineyards. Even from a distance, Bad Wimpfen’s landmark welcomes you: the Blue Tower. The town is considered the largest imperial palace north of the Alps and impresses with its rich history. Be sure to set aside a little extra time here for your exploration. **Sights:** - Guttenberg and Ehrenberg Castles - Jewish Cemetery - Heinsheim Mountain Church - Heinsheim Castle - Section of the trail along the banks of the Neckar - The Stauffer Imperial Palace and the historic, protected old town of Bad Wimpfen

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Ascent

233 m

Descent

220 m

Source: Christiane Bachert · CC BY-SA 4.0