The Appelbach cycle path leads largely off the tourist trail from Marienthal (to Rockenhausen) along the small river Appel from the source to the mouth in the Nahe Bad Kreuznach-Planned.
Route profile
- Length: 42 km
- Signposting: Well
- Slopes: Upstream to Würzweiler slight, then moderate gradients. In the opposite direction it is only downhill.
- Path condition: Well
- Traffic load:
- Suitable bike:
- Family suitability: Due to the lack of public transport, family suitability must be denied.
- Inline suitability: No
background
The Appel is a tributary of the Nahe, which rises south of Marienthal and from there flows into the Nahe after 40 km. The Appel initially crosses the North Palatinate uplands, and then merges into the Rheinhessen hill country and finally into the Nahe valley.
The valley of the Appel is one of the few ways to reach the Donnersberg without steep inclines. From other regions there are steep gradients to be overcome, while the Appeltal rises comparatively gently.
preparation
Sufficient provisions should be taken with you, as there are no shopping options at the starting point in Marienthal and the next option is only available in Gaugrehweiler, on Sundays and public holidays even in Wöllstein. If you follow the tip under "Arrival", you can stock up on all the things you need in Kirchheimbolanden.
getting there
It makes most sense to start in Marienthal and drive downhill, the other way around you can of course also drive uphill from Bad Kreuznach.
Getting to Marienthal is a bit tricky because the mountain village is 400 m above sea level. Line 901 from Rockenhausen, which otherwise runs on the route, uses minibuses that do not allow bicycles to be taken along. It's best to take the train up Kirchheimbolanden and from there uses the excursion buses to Donnersberg with bicycle transport (see article Dannenfels). From Donnersberg it's only downhill on public roads to Marienthal. However, the steep gradient on the Donnersberg requires good braking and a certain amount of control over your own bike.
Bad Kreuznach naturally has good public transport connections thanks to its train station. From there it is 3 km to the official starting point of the cycle route.
The villages along the cycle route can hardly be reached by public transport on the Donnersberg side. This is mainly because bicycles are generally not taken in the call taxis and the "regular" courses are often done with minibuses that do not allow bicycles to be taken. The situation may be different on the Rhine-Hessian side.
Route description with sights
The cycle path begins in Marienthal at the village square and therefore not at the actual source of the Appel. If you want to start the bike path at the source in "proper style", you have to take the road "Am Donnersberg" past the tourist restaurant and behind the village over a short forest path to the Appelbrunnen (follow the hiking trail signs), where there is also a place to rest. From the starting point, the cycle path runs through the numerous small villages in the Appeltal, within sight of the Donnersberg, until it finally crosses over to Rheinhessen behind Niederhausen. Apart from the very first section, which runs over a gravel forest path, all paths are paved and largely off the public roads.
- Marienthal (340 m) - At the foot of the Donnersberg lies the mountain village of Marienthal, which, as the intersection of numerous hiking trails, has built a tourist infrastructure that is considerable for its size; so there are both overnight accommodations and an excursion restaurant to stop off at. The place goes back to an old monastery from the Middle Ages, the traces of which are partly still visible in the present day Protestant church in the center of the village. The village square has recently been rebuilt and significantly embellished and invites you to linger.
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~> After crossing the small village, head north along the Appel past the Rußmühlerhof settlement. After crossing the country road to Ruppertsecken, the path leads through a short forest with moderate inclines and gravel paths. After leaving the forest, we continue across fields.
~> After crossing the small village, head north along the Appel past the Rußmühlerhof settlement. After crossing the country road to Ruppertsecken, the path leads through a short forest with moderate inclines and gravel paths. After leaving the forest, we continue across fields.- Würzweiler (282 m) - Würzweiler is a very small and sleepy village with 180 inhabitants. Due to the size of the village, there is no church of its own, but there is a bell tower in the center of the village, which reminds the villagers of the service in the nearby Marienthal. The old farmhouses that meander along the main road can be admired.
- ~ ~> Past the kindergarten, the Appel is crossed for the first time. After leaving the village, there is currently a short stretch of the country road, but a footpath and cycle path is currently (as of November 2018) already under construction. We then continue on a dirt road through quiet fields.
- Gerbach (257 m) - With a good 500 inhabitants, Gerbach is the next larger town in the area and is known for its spacious campsite on the outskirts. The heart of the village is the Catholic Church of St. Michael in the center of the village. By the way, the former US special arms store North Point, which has been recaptured by nature since the American troops withdrew from the Donnersberg region, is very close by; Occasionally there are guided tours through the abandoned site.
- ~ ~> The bike path leads past the elementary school and the parish hall of a local free church and continues on dirt roads with no major features.
- Sankt Alban (247 m) - The place with the very Christian name was the winner of "Our village should be more beautiful" and is accordingly richly decorated with flowers. The Protestant church in the center of the village is relatively recent (built in 1911), and there is also an old, well-preserved farm in the village, the Hengstbacherhof.
- ~ ~> The cycle path crosses the Appel again and now leads on the other side through a short forest to the next town.
- Gaugrehweiler (227 m) - In Gaugrehweiler, which has 500 inhabitants, there is the only petrol station in the entire region and an opportunity to stock up on provisions and other things necessary for the bike tour. The petrol station is closed on Sundays and public holidays! There is also a pharmacy and a bakery here. The place was temporarily the residence of a local count, even if not much of the former castle has survived. In addition, there is a well-preserved historical town center with a Protestant church that goes back to the Middle Ages and is well worth seeing.
- ~ ~> The bike path leads past the town center over fields to the next town.
- Oberhausen an der Appel (227 m) - With 150 inhabitants, Oberhausen is a very small and tranquil place. The place had a certain importance in mining above ground, as evidenced by several abandoned sandstone quarries in the area and, last but not least, the houses in the place.
- ~ ~> After a short stretch on the local road, the bike path continues directly along the Appel.
- Münsterappel (199 m) - With almost 500 inhabitants, Münsterappel is the next "metropolis" along the cycle path. Münsterappel was the seat of an important Benedictine monastery; the splendid monastery church in the center of the town from this time is now an insider tip, as it is rarely visited by tourists despite its numerous relics and works of art.
- ~ ~> The bike path leads through side streets past the town center and then further through fields, past the sports field of the local football club, to the next town.
- Niederhausen an der Appel (191 m) - Niederhausen is a small village, mainly characterized by old farmhouses.
- ~ ~> The bike path changes here to the country road and crosses the Appel twice in its course. The full length of the footpath and bike path parallel to the country road has not yet been developed, you have to drive over 2 km in the middle of the country road while avoiding the cars. This is where the border between the Donnersberg region and Rheinhessen is crossed and finally the next town is reached.
- Tiefenthal (180 m) - With Tiefenthal, a wine-growing community is reached for the first time, even if the vineyards in the village are of modest extent.
- ~ ~> Through the village, you pass the Protestant church and then continue on dirt roads along the edge of the forest. After 3 km you come to Hof Iben, a formerly important moated castle and seat of the Knights Templar. From here, after another crossing of the Appel, you have to switch to a country road without a cycle path and fight your way through car traffic for 3 km until you have reached the next town.
- Neu-Bamberg (160 m) - Neu-Bamberg was originally built as a hilltop castle on a mountain hill; the remains of the castle have been preserved and can be visited. The village was built around the castle with fortifications that have been preserved to this day. Today Neu-Bamberg has a good 900 inhabitants and a well-developed tourist infrastructure, including several wineries where you can taste the local Nahe wine. Don't forget to take a detour to the Catholic Church of St. Dionysuis on a nearby hill.
- ~ ~> Past the castle, after another crossing of the Appel, you go through a wooded area. The Appel is crossed twice at a former mill until the border to Rheinhessen is crossed.
- Wöllstein (150 m) - With almost 4500 inhabitants, Wöllstein is the first really large town that is passed through on the bike route, and the first opportunity to stock up on essentials in the local supermarket. There are also numerous restaurants that invite you to stop off, overnight accommodation and, last but not least, wineries again.
- ~ ~> The bike path leads straight through the whole town and then leads over a newly built roundabout (the roundabout is still missing on older maps and GPS!) Over the Appel and into the next town.
- Badenheim (120 m) - Badenheim is a tranquil town in Rhine-Hesse with just under 600 inhabitants. There are also some restaurants and wineries here.
- ~ ~> After crossing the village, continue on a cycle path parallel to the country road to the next village.
- Pfaffen-Schwabenheim (144 m) - This place is home to the largest preserved monastery complex in Rhineland-Palatinate, the Augustinian Canons of Pfaffen-Schwabenheim and for that reason alone is worth a visit.
- ~ ~> On a dirt road along the country road, after another intersection with the Appel, we go to the next town.
- Bosenheim (135 m) - The wine-growing town of Bosenheim is now part of Bad Kreuznach. Mainly known for its numerous wineries, there are plenty of opportunities to stop off and stay overnight.
- ~ ~> We continue on a bike path along the country road to the last place on the bike path.
- Planig (105 m) - In Planig the Appel flows into the Nahe. Planig is not just a winegrowing location, it is also an important industrial location: the huge industrial area west of Planig merges seamlessly into the Bad Kreuznach city area.
- ~ ~> Behind Planig, the cycle path ends after crossing the Nahe and joins the Nahe cycle path.
Other places to stay
security
Go on
The lovely town of Bad Kreuznach is only a stone's throw away from the end of the cycle route. It continues on the Nahe cycle path either towards Bingen or towards Idar-Oberstein.
If the journey ends in Marienthal, you can go to Rockenhausen; After a short ascent, the (but heavily used) country road only leads downhill. Rockenhausen itself is worth seeing, and there is also a connection to the local one Alsenz cycle path.
References to literature and maps
- Appelbach cycle path on the tourism website of Rheinhessen
- Map of the Appelbach cycle path on Radwanderland.de
