The Way of St. James: Stage from Remigiusberg, Kusel, to the Freisen-Oberkirchen Viaduct
This stage leads from Remigiusberg in Haschbach through Kusel up to Lichtenberg Castle and along the Fritz-Wunderlich Trail to the valley bridge in Freisen-Oberkirchen. The focal point of the Glantals landscape is Remigiusberg, located between Altenglan and Theisbergstegen, featuring castle ruins and a church. Separated by a mountain gorge, the ruins of Michelsburg Castle rise on Remigiusberg to the east, directly across from the church. The Remigius Church was once the religious center of the Benedictine provostry of St. Remigi Remigiusberg—first mentioned in a document in 1127—a subsidiary monastery of the Abbey of St. Remy near Reims. “A little town lies in the Palatinate, in such a beautiful valley...” This is how Fritz Wunderlich, the famous son of the city of Kusel, sings of his Kusel. A tour through Fritz Wunderlich’s hometown of Kusel takes us to milestones in his life and work, to places that honor his memory. He is commemorated in the memorial rooms of the City and Local History Museum in Kusel. Other sights in Kusel: City Hall with its carillon, the architecturally interesting market square with the Evangelical City Church and the Hutmacher Fountain, the Catholic Church in the Neo-Gothic style (built between 1886 and 1889), and the historic city center. Every visitor is captivated by the beauty of Lichtenberg Castle in the heart of the Palatinate Highlands. It is one of the largest castle ruins in Germany, measuring 425 meters in length; it was never destroyed by an enemy but was ravaged by fire about 200 years ago. The origins of the castle, built by the Counts of Veldenz and the Dukes of Palatinate-Zweibrücken, date back to the year 1200. Within the castle grounds are a modern youth hostel, a restaurant, and three museums. At the train station in Schwarzerden, you’ll find the Ostertalbahn, an impressive tourist attraction. The railway is operated on the route between Schwarzerden and Ottweiler by the Arbeitskreis Ostertalbahn e.V. during the summer months, mostly on weekends. The Mithras monument at the Weiheranlage in Schwarzerden, with its carved relief—which once formed the back wall of a temple—is one of the oldest places of worship in our region. It is a monument commemorating the Romans’ former presence at this site, which likely dates back to the 3rd century A.D. The Protestant church in Schwarzerden was completed in 1955. At that time, the church had only a small bell above the entrance. In 2004, a separate bell tower with two bells—which were cast in Passau—was added. The Weiselberg Nature Reserve is rich in natural beauty and impressive treasures. The Weiselberg is famous for the colorful mineral formations found in the agates there. Some of the finds are on display at the Mineralogical Museum in Oberkirchen and the Mineral Museum in Freisen. The most impressive structure in the municipality of Freisen is the valley bridge in Oberkirchen. Its 12 arches, supported by 11 piers, stretch 275 meters and span the Oster Valley at a height of 30 meters, right at the entrance to Oberkirchen. The valley bridge is one of the largest stone bridges in southwestern Germany. It is believed that the Catholic Church of St. Katharina in Oberkirchen dates back to the 14th or 15th century. The church stands in all its splendor as the Christian and cultural center of Oberkirchen.
- Length
- 17.9 km
- Walking time
- approx. 5:30 h
- Ascent
- 386 m
- Descent
- 345 m
Walking time as stated by the operator.
Elevation profile calculated by Fairvisit from satellite elevation data. Ascent and descent usually differ by up to about 10 %, more on steep terrain.
Start
Remigiusberg
Nearby
Along the way
Finish
Talbrücke Freisen Oberkirchen
Nearby