RheinBurgenWeg Stage 13: Trechtingshausen–Bingen (north–south)

From the Morgenbach Valley to the Mouse Tower!

The last stage of the RheinBurgenWeg starts at the railway station in Trechtingshausen. From there, follow the path along the B9, which you cross just before leaving the village. You now find yourself at the entrance to the wild and romantic Morgenbach Valley. The path, signposted yellow and red, leads you some way through the valley until you reach the main RheinBurgenWeg at the top of a flight of steps. The mule path starts here. The climb up the narrow rocky path requires a degree of sure-footedness. Soon you will be able to catch a glimpse down into the Morgenbach Valley and over to Reichenstein Castle from a cliff. The RheinBurgenWeg now leads steeply downhill until Rheinstein Castle suddenly towers above you! It's definitely worth exploring the castle and making a short detour into the adjacent "Kleiner Weinprinz" castle restaurant. This is followed by unadulterated hiking enjoyment, as the mule path meanders upwards around cliffs and through a wood of crooked oaks. The effort is well worthwhile because, at the edge of the slope, the Schweizerhaus restaurant offers a fabulous view of Assmannshausen and Old Father Rhine. From here, the Soonwaldsteig Trail follows the same route as the RheinBurgenWeg back into the Morgenbach Valley. At the fork to the nearby Jägerhaus forester's lodge, the RheinBurgenWeg leaves the Soonwaldsteig Trail and heads along the unique Steckeschlääferklamm gorge with many carved faces to discover amidst the unspoilt nature of the woodland. At the end of the gorge you'll reach the car park at the Josef Fountain. Following the RheinBurgenWeg, a further cultural and historical treasure awaits you – the "Villa Rustica" excavation site. After this excursion back into Roman times, the trail continues over the suspension bridge into the Kreuzbach Valley and on towards the Heiligkreuz forester's lodge. After a short rest in the forester's lodge, you're on the final straight! The RheinBurgenWeg winds around a beautiful natural trail through Bingen Forest before, a little later, treating you to a view of the Prinzenkopf. The last section follows hairpin bends steeply downhill before the main trail ends at the B9. A path leads from the trail portal on the B9 past the "Mouse Tower Park" via the railway station to the "Kulturufer" in Bingen where the last stage of the RheinBurgenWeg ends close to the Hildegard Museum and the passenger ferry to Rüdesheim with hopefully many wonderful memories in your backpack.