The Neckar Valley & Castles Way 2012A River Valley Walking Tour ending in Romantic Heidelberg |
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This route between the small town of Bad Wimpfen and the world famous university city of Heidelberg combines river scenery and ruined castles in a way that is unique. Even the world famous Rhine does not have the number of castles in such a short distance as the lower Neckar Valley. Daily distances on this walk are mostly quite short, so the typical walker should not take more than about 4 or 5 hours on most days, so you do have time to enjoy the castles and the pretty small towns along the river. Nevertheless, as you are not walking along the bottom of the valley, there are significant amounts of uphill walking on most days. The whole route is paralleled by a regular rail service, so there is always an alternative to walking if necessary. |
| Day 1. Arrive in the romantic imperial town of Bad Wimpfen. |
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Day 2. Leave Bad Wimpfen through the attractive spa gardens. Then walk both through
woodland and across open country to Heinsheim and the 12th century Ehrenberg castle,
still inhabited today. Continue alon the course of a stream, then through more woodland
to the impresive Guttenberg Castle. Another stretch through the forest brings you to
a fine viewpoint over the river, with Horneck castle dominating the view. Cross the river
and walk into Gundelsheim (about 9 miles, 850 feet of ascent). Day 3. This stage is the longest of this tour. However, note that a good rail service runs along the valley, which makes it easy to shorten the walk. Leave Gundelsheim for the Michaelsberg, crowned with a pretty chapel. The way continues over fields and through forest to the dramatic ruins of Hornberg Castle. From here continue high above the River Neckar, with fine views over the valley, then follow a vineyard nature trail down into Neckarzimmern. The route continues through Neckarelz and onward through a nature reserve to another fine viewpoint high above the river. Soon after you come to the entrance to the Margaretenschlucht. This dramatic gorge is without doubt one of the highlights of the walk, but great care must be taken when the ground is wet. From here you continue to you final destination, Neckargerach (about 14 miles, 1820 feet of ascent). |
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Day 4. From the centre of Neckargerach you can see the Minneburg Castle.
While it is not on the route, it is an easy to walk of just under 1½ miles. Walk from Neckargerach to Zwingenberg. Above the village is Zwingenberg Palace which you reach after a short walk. From here walk up through the Wolfsschlucht (Wolf's Gorge). Now you walk above the village of Lindach and through the forest; you can see the ruins of Stolzeneck Castle across the river. The highlight of the day's walk is now soon reached - the Devil's Pulpit from where the view over the valley of the Neckar is superb. Finally descend to Eberbach, the largest town on this part of the river (about 11½ miles, 1300 feet of ascent). Day 5. The day starts with a steady, but quite easy walk up to the Ohrsbergturm, a viewing tower built in 1970 on the 776 feet high hill. There are ditches, part of former fortifications, on the hill. The view from here is excellent, but you walk back down to Eberbach before continuing the next stage of the walk. After leaving Eberbach, the first village you come to is Igelsbach, a minor curiosity in that it is the only village in Germany to be split between two federal states. Continue through forests to Hirschhorn Castle, a well preserved ruin now owned by the state. From the castle the way leads downhill past the monastery church and through an ancient city gate into the small town of Hirschhorn (about 8 miles, 1260 feet of ascent). Day 6. Leave Hirschhorn through forest. As you climb up the woods open up so that you have a range of views over the river and the hills beyond. Just about the whole of the route to your next overnight point, Neckarsteinach, is through forest (about 10 miles, 1725 feet of ascent). Typically, it only takes about 4 hours to walk to Neckarsteinach, which is noted for its four castles. These are all easily reached in a short circular walk, taking just over an hour, but clearly depending on how much time you spend at each castle! |
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Day 7. Cross the Neckar to the south bank, then walk through a wonderful
beech forest to Dilsberg. Climb up to Dilsberg castle, a partially restored ruin
from the 12th century. After visiting the castle, walk down through gardens to
the village centre. From here the route runs first across open country, then
through forest, to Neckargemünd. Above Neckargemünd are the remains of Reichenstein Castle, again from the 12th century. After visiting the castle, the route takes you through the forest to Schlierbach (about 9 miles, 1800 feet of ascent). From here to Heidelberg we recommend that you take the local train. If, however, you are feeling energetic, the path continues to and through Heidelberg, to end in Mannheim. From Schlierbach to Heidelberg is about 6½ miles, 670 feet of ascent. We recommend that you spend at least one full day in Heidelberg after the walk. |
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