Krickenbach: Schweinstal Valley and Sandstone Art

The best way to discover Krickenbach is through Schweinstal Valley: a well-maintained path runs alongside a chain of lakes, with 13 sandstone sculptures along the route. The landscape and art are among the area’s defining experiences. If you’re looking for a holiday apartment in Krickenbach, consider whether you’d like to spend your stay mainly walking, cycling, or taking in the sculptures.

Explore Schweinstal Valley on Foot or by Bike

The path through Schweinstal Valley can be walked from Federal Highway 270 toward Queidersbach. It is also suitable for cycling. This route offers a chance to experience the chain of lakes and the sandstone sculptures along the same stretch. If you enjoy walking, you can take the path at your own pace; if you prefer cycling, you can ride it by bike. No distance or walking time is specified.

There are 13 sandstone sculptures created by artists along the well-maintained path. The works have varied designs and offer distinctive forms to look out for as you walk or cycle. For families who enjoy discovering things together, looking at the works can be a focus in its own right: you can compare the shapes and talk about how the artists have worked with the sandstone.

Sculptures in a Variety of Forms

Michael Dan Archer’s sculpture “Passage” was made from a single stone that was sawn and split. Rainer Fest’s “From Here” consists of three stele-like blocks of reddish sandstone. Together, they form a space visitors can enter. In Albert Hettinger’s “Up and Down,” two large sandstone blocks meet; the sculpture is 5.5 metres high. These three works show different ways of working with the material and its form.

The 13 sandstone sculptures in Schweinstal Valley were created in 1986 at the first sculptors’ symposium in Rhineland-Palatinate. Separate from this was the 2009 sculptors’ symposium in Krickenbach: the sandstone used there came from the Jürgen Picard Natural Stone Park in Krickenbach.

Sandstone in Architecture and Craftsmanship

The Protestant Church in Krickenbach also illustrates the importance of this material to the area. It was built in 1964–1965 from red Buntsandstein (New Red Sandstone) sourced locally, and has largely retained its original appearance to this day. The Carl Picard Natural Stone Works, which includes sandstone quarries and a sawmill, is located in Schweinstal Valley. The company processes sandstone from its own quarries.

Numerous examples of Buntsandstein, masonry, façade cladding and sculptures in the Schweinstal Valley area attest to the specialist company Carl Picard and its locally sourced products. Those interested in sculpture can also get hands-on experience: every summer, sculpture courses led by sculptor Willi Bauer are held in the Picard company’s sandstone quarry in Schweinstal Valley.

More to Discover in Krickenbach

The annual Maypole Festival brings people together in and in front of the “In den Dorfwiesen” multipurpose hall. Local experiences range from the art in Schweinstal Valley to a recurring festival in the village. Depending on whether you prefer spending time outdoors, viewing sculptures, or learning about architecture and local traditions, these different sides of Krickenbach may shape your travel plans.

Explore More Places

If you’d like to continue your search beyond Krickenbach, you can also find Otterbach, Frankenstein, Otterberg, Schwedelbach, Kaiserslautern, Kreuzhof, Trippstadt and Schallodenbach here.

For the main travel overview: Kaiserslautern.