Reichelsheim (Odenwald): Castle, Legends Trail and Mining History

Reichenberg Castle and the Legends Trail

The 12.1 km “Sagenweg Wildweibchenstein” circular trail passes Reichenberg Castle, the ruins of Rodenstein Castle, the waterfall and the Wildweibchenstein rock. It also crosses the Buchwald forest and returns to the car park at Reichenberg School. The route thus links several named stops with a stretch through the forest. The sequence of places makes the trail especially interesting if you enjoy taking in cultural and scenic highlights together on a walk. Check local route information before setting out.

Three circular trails, different themes

The Gersprenztal R7 circular trail is 15.4 km long, offers distant views as far as Neunkirchner Höhe at 604 m, follows part of the Alemannenweg and returns to Reichelsheim via Beerfurth. The 14.7 km Panoramaweg zwischen Erz und Stein R8 offers a different focus: it runs through the former mining region around Rohrbach and Erzbach and provides a glimpse inside an old mine tunnel. The Legends Trail links its stops with the Buchwald forest. The three routes therefore differ not only in their stated lengths, from 12.1 to 15.4 km, but also in their themes: legends and sights, distant views or mining history. If you’re planning a trip with children, these differences can be a good conversation starter; check that your chosen route suits your plans.

Leaflets and the regional museum

The Reichelsheim municipal tourist information office has developed a separate leaflet for each of the Odenwald Club-certified quality circular trails R1, R6, R7 and R8. Check availability in advance. The Reichelsheim Odenwald Regional Museum is open on the second Sunday of each month from 14:00 to 17:00. Opening hours may change, so check the date before your visit. Combining a hike with a museum visit gives your stay two distinct focuses: outdoors, the named routes and stops; in the museum, local culture.

In the wider Odenwald destination

The wider Odenwald destination also offers distinct themes for nature and culture enthusiasts. The crystalline Odenwald contains deep-seated rocks such as gabbro, diorite, granodiorite and granite, as well as metamorphic rocks. These rocks provide evidence of a continent-continent collision that took place 400 to 320 million years ago. The Felsenmeer rock formation in Lautertal was shaped by geological processes that began more than 340 million years ago. Numerous remains of Roman stone-working from the 3rd and 4th centuries also give it historical significance.

Breuberg Castle, with a history spanning more than 850 years, is another part of the Odenwald’s collection of castles. It is one of the largest and best-preserved castles in southern Germany, and houses the Breuberg Museum. These regional cultural and geological attractions offer a different focus from the circular trails and museum in Reichelsheim. When choosing where to stay, you can therefore decide whether to focus your plans on what Reichelsheim has to offer or include other Odenwald attractions.

Discover more destinations

Sensbachtal, Fränkisch-Crumbach, Bad König, Brensbach, Brombachtal, Breuberg, Beerfelden, Höchst Im Odenwald

Back to the wider travel overview: Odenwald.