Kraichgau and Neckar Valley offer an abundance of worthwhile hiking destinations, some of which can be reached on well-developed hiking trails and some on narrow paths. The Hike from Bad Rappenau to Guttenberg Castle runs from the spa Bad Rappenau via the Zimmerhof district to Guttenberg Castle Neckarmühlbach and back. Much of the way follows the popular Fünfmühlental
preparation
- Length of the route: approx. 16.6 km,
- Pure walking time: about 4 hours. Plan time for sightseeing on the way and especially at Guttenberg Castle.
- Paths: paved forest paths, agricultural paths, a short stretch of the path is unpaved and slippery when wet. The route is not suitable for inline skiers. Much of the way is also signposted as cycle paths.
- The Greifenwarte at Guttenberg Castle is open all year round. Flight demonstrations are daily from April to October at 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. The castle is open from Apr to Oct.
getting there
Choice of starting point: Bad Rappenau train station is a good starting point because it is easily accessible. If you are arriving by car, there is plenty of free parking in the immediate vicinity. The way there leads via Zimmerhof past the Jewish cemetery Heinsheim to Guttenberg Castle, the way back leads through the Fünfmühlental to Zimmerhof. If you have less time available, you can shorten the tour and start at the parking lot in Zimmerhof. Of the five mills along the Mühlbach that gave the Fünfmühlental its name, none are in operation today.
hike
From Bad Rappenau to Zimmerhof
From the train station, a footpath goes along the tracks to Kirchenstrasse, and further along Wilhelmstrasse to the Kurpark. Past the Kursee lake, the tower of the Salinensteg and the playground you come to a cross street at the end of the park. An asphalt path continues about 50 m to the left, markings show it Salt & brine cycle path or a red diamond from the Odenwald Club and a yellow one 1 of the Neckartal-Odenwald nature park. The path leads to K2038 between Zimmerhof and Hohenstadt. The hiking trail continues parallel to this, and a gravel path bends to the right immediately in front of Zimmerhof. Follow this up to L528 on the outskirts of Zimmerhof. On the other side of the country road leads the Guttenbergstrasse towards the golf course and a parking lot. An orientation board indicates the entrance to the Fünfmühlental.
From Zimmerhof to Guttenberg Castle
The footpath into the Fünfmühlental goes directly past the orientation board, past a small fishing lake, then along the Mühlbach to a driveway that leads to the sewage treatment plant. Here a path goes into the forest, a wooden plaque with the inscription Guttenberg Castle shows the way. Another sign indicates that this forest has been designated as a protected forest. There is only one single, sometimes quite steep and unpaved path through this short forest, here you have an unadulterated nature for decades, only a few targeted interventions are possible. After a few hundred meters you will reach the open field and the Jewish cemetery. The well-preserved complex is surrounded by a wall, the wrought-iron gate is usually locked, but from the path you have a good view of the graves, which are mostly made of sandstone. Visitors should respect the dignity of the place, which includes wearing a headgear for men.
At the cemetery the path turns sharply to the left, straight on to the forest, there the easily accessible path leads after about 2 km to a parking lot. On the asphalt road, continue to the left, then a footpath runs parallel to the driveway on the right through the forest. Blue signs point the way to Guttenberg Castle
On the castle
The one from the time of the Hohenstaufen Guttenberg Castle has been continuously inhabited throughout its history and has never been destroyed. The outer bailey and the terrace of the restaurant are freely accessible, one has an impressive view over the Neckar valley to Hornberg Castle Neckarzimmern and at Schloss Horneck Gundelsheim. The 40 m high keep is accessible via the castle museum. The flight demonstrations of the birds of prey are daily at 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. in summer, when the thermals are good, eagles and vultures fly far over the Neckar valley. After the demonstrations there is the opportunity to observe the animals in the kennel up close. The castle restaurant will probably not receive a Michelin star in the foreseeable future, but the price-performance ratio is good.
From Guttenberg Castle to Zimmerhof
The way back is initially downhill to the Fünfmühlental. The lowest of these is the Maysack mill. If you want to see it, you have to go down to the village of Neckarmühlbach, where it is right at the entrance to the village. In the other case, follow the red diamond at the castle gate bwz. the sign to the mill and go down the footpath into the valley. On the way, after a short stretch, a path branches off to the (closed) castle chapel, the epitaphs on the outside of the walls are worth seeing.
The path now leads along the slope on the right side of the Mühlbach. A small bridge leads to the other side of the courtyard Schnepfenhardter Mill. This fourth mill is known as the Mühlenschenke, and by the way, Mondays are closed. The route continues leisurely uphill into the forest, the path is signposted as a salt and brine cycle path. There is a possibility to rest in a clear place on Kurtbrunnenthat on Siegelbacher District lies. The next mill is that Summer mill, it is used as a farm, in its immediate vicinity is a fallow deer enclosure. From here the path towards the Zimmerhof is paved. The Barthsmühle is a few meters away, it is privately owned. Then it goes along the edge of the forest to the sewage treatment plant. Shifted to the left, the footpath marked with the red diamond goes along the stream and past the fishing lake. Now you are back at the parking lot at Zimmerhof.
From Zimmerhof to Bad Rappenau
At the parking lot, the road goes to the right to the ball mill, at this top mill there is again an opportunity to rest. The further path cuts through the terrain of the Golf clubs to Ehrenbergstrasse (L528) in Zimmerhof. Now it goes uphill on the sidewalk, at the highest point you can see the first houses of Bad Rappenau in front of you. At the junction with Johann-Strauss-Straße there is a pedestrian crossing to a small green area, from there further along the edge of the spa gardens to the city center and back to the train station.
trips
- Guttenberg Castle is one of the sights of the Castle Road
- From Guttenberg Castle it is easy to get to the Neckar Valley and the nearby Gundelsheim Neckar Valley way
