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| Falkenstein | ||
| federal state | Rhineland-Palatinate | |
|---|---|---|
| Residents | 185 (2019) | |
| height | 404 m | |
no tourist info on Wikidata:  | ||
| location | ||
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Falkenstein is a small village on the edge of the Thunder Mountain.
background
Falkenstein lies in a deeply cut side valley of the Donnersberg. The village itself meanders along the main road, which is one of the steepest roads in Germany with officially signposted 25%. Today the village is mainly visited by day-trippers who go on hikes in the surrounding forests from here.
getting there
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By plane
By train
By bus
There are almost no regular bus connections to Falkenstein, but you can get there by taxi (line 4924) from Winnweiler train station. Order under the number 06361/8228 at least one hour before departure.
A possibly interesting alternative for hikers: go to Kirchheimbolanden, get on the buses to Rockenhausen (line 901) and leave at the "Abzweig Falkenstein" stop (between Rußmühlerhof and Marienthal) and walk the rest of the way. You can take short cuts through the weekend house area, so you don't have to walk the entire route on the country road, but the country road is extremely scenic. The buses run almost every hour Mon-Fri, and there are three trips on Sat.
In the street
The next motorway exit is 
13 Winnweiler at the 
. There you continue on the 
Direction Winnweiler and then follow the signs to Falkenstein.
Access from the north (Kirchheimbolanden) is also possible, but only recommended for drivers with mountain experience.
mobility
The place can be explored on foot, but this can quickly become exhausting for the inexperienced. To make the dimensions clear: from the beginning to the end of the main road there is an altitude difference of 130 meters over a distance of 1200 meters. You should therefore choose a suitable parking space when arriving by car, for example the parking lot right next to the hiking parking lot above the castle. Anyone who comes by bus / taxi has to bite the bullet, because it stops below the castle and turns there.
Tourist Attractions
- 1 Catholic Church of St. Catherine. The local Catholic Church is comparatively young. After lengthy discussions, it was built in the years 1975-1976 in the same place as its predecessor, a chapel from 1764, which with just 40 seats had simply become too small for the Catholic community in Falkenstein.
- 2 Protestant bell tower. The bell tower was built at the instigation of the small Protestant community in Falkenstein (an estimated 19 Protestants live in the village today), who, if they couldn't afford their own church, wanted to be called to the service in Imsbach with their own bell ringing at least. The bell tower was inaugurated in 1886 and still shapes the townscape today.
- 3 Falkenstein Castle. Considerable parts of the former Falkenstein Castle have been preserved, including the keep and the outer walls of the former knight's house. The castle has been partially restored and made accessible to tourists; there are also regular events. The keep offers a beautiful view of the village and the surrounding area.
- 4 Falkensteiner Gorge. The gorges south of Falkenstein are accessible to tourists via a hiking car park and are a natural spectacle that is well worth seeing.
activities
hike is a very obvious activity and Falkenstein also offers the right infrastructure for it. There are several parking spaces for hikers along the village and you can either go into the forest on the marked paths or on your own; Hiking maps are located at the hiking parking lots and in front of the castle. To strengthen on the way you can z. B. go to the Kronenbuchhütte (see kitchen).
The classic "postcard motif" from Falkenstein can be found after a short ascent above the cemetery, from where you can see the entire place and the castle. The view over the Appeltal from the lightly traveled country road to Kirchheimbolanden is also well worth seeing.
In the summer months there are also guided tours on various topics, which you can join against prior registration and a small participation fee; You can find more information on this at the Winnweiler municipal administration.
Regular events
- Kerwe on the 3rd weekend in September
- Christmas market at the castle ruins on the 3rd weekend in Advent
shop
Postcards and other delicacies are available at Burgstubb.
kitchen
- 1 Burgstubb Falkenstein, Hauptstrasse 49. Tel.: (0)6302 981777. Excursion bar right next to the castle, regional cuisine.Open: Sat from 11 a.m., Sun and public holidays from 10 a.m.
- 2 Falkensteiner Hof, Falkensteinerhof 1. Tel.: (0)6302 924555. Another restaurant above the village with regional cuisine.Open: in the season (April to October) daily from 10 a.m., out of season only open Thursday to Sunday.
- 3 Kronenbuchhütte. Hiker's hut in the forest east of Falkenstein with small meals for on the go.Open: Sa 13: 00-18: 00, Sunday and public holidays 10: 00-18: 00.
- 4 Café timeless, Hauptstrasse 33. Small cozy café with homemade cakes.Open: Sun from 2 p.m.
nightlife
accommodation
There is a Kolping House in Falkenstein, but it is only open to groups and not also to individual travelers.
health
Practical advice
Cell phone reception is available almost everywhere in the village, but radio silence quickly reigns in the forest.
trips
- Imsbach can be reached after a short hike (5 km) and offers a number of sights with its show mines and museum.
