Deutsch-französischer Burgenweg

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66996 Schönau, Gebüger Straße ; other entry points: 76891 Nothweiler, Gimbelhof/France, Niedersteinbach/France, Wengelsbach/France, 66996 Fischbach-Petersbächel

The trail starts at the idyllic resort of Schoenau in the Dahner Felsenland. A path leads straight up to the powerful and bizarre steep "Schlüsselfelsen". After a short break, we continue past the rock face of the "Langer Fels" along a   path now leading up to the castle ruins "Wegelnburg". Here an overwhelming 360 degree view awaits the hiker, in good weather you can even see the northern Black Forest. No wonder that "Princess Hirlanda"   had her home here. After about 500 metres, we cross the border at the "Kaiser-Wilhelm-Stein" and after a few minutes reach   the ruins of the "Hohenbourg". Up a steep stairway you can go up the tower. Again, there is a great view. A compass rose with sights to see both near and far   helps your orientation. From here, two other highlights of the tour can be seen, the ruins of "Loewenstein" and "Fleckenstein". The Loewenstein, where a cunning robber baron once lived, is easily reached. Along the “Felsenpfad” we now go down to the mighty castle ruins of "Fleckenstein", the so-called castle of mystery with its well   said to have been built by the devil. A visit and tour of the castle is highly recommended. A bistro and a museum at the information centre provide an ideal stopover on the way. We continue now down into the valley, past the "Fleckensteiner Weiher" and then up to the hidden castle ruins of "Froensbourg" - a ruined castle which is bound to appeal to all romanticists. Through the forest, the trail now leads up to the mysterious "Zigeunerfelsen" and on to the fabled castle ruins of "Wasigenstein". Here a bloody battle between King Gunther of Worms and his friend Hagen once took place, for which Princess Hildegunde was responsible. After an extensive tour, it is now down to the ruins of "Arnsbourg", above the small village of Obersteinbach. Hungry hikers can here perhaps already smell the scent of a "Flammkuchen", an Alsatian specialty. But your hunger can not yet be appeased since it now goes back up the Schloßberg past the "Wachtfelsen" before the path then leads down into Obersteinbach. Through the village and then through the Schlangenbachtal the path is relatively flat before the border is reached following a short but steep climb. At the top, the reward for your efforts is waiting for you, the lookout point "Bayrischer Windstein". Up a ladder you go up to the rocky summit and there awaits you an overwhelming view over vast forests and over to the ruins of"Lutzelhardt". A place to dream and let your spirits soar! After a long "breather", the silence or the voice of nature can be listened to along the "Großen Florenberg" until we reach the" Zollstock". Here, right on the border, where once smugglers were on the road, the path now leads up to the heights of the "Maimont", the scene of bloody battles during the war. Past the rocks of the "Steinernen Heeres” we soon reach the boulder “Friedenskreuz”. It was set up as a "memorial to peace and friendship" by the Americans and the Germans after the war and is also a magnificent view point . "From now on it's downhill" is how to describe the way ahead. After some time, the hidden castle ruins of "Blumenstein", the so-called "haunted castle" appear along the way. Passing the "Wengelsbacher Hals", the path leads down into the "Wengelsbachtal" with its numerous fish ponds before, after a short time, the houses of Schonau tell us that we have reached   the end of the tour.