Hiking from castle to castle in between Alsace and the Palatine-forest

The perfect hike for castle-lovers starts at the Gimbelhof (1) idyllically situated at the base of the bizarre “Krappenfelsen”. Depending on the chosen route you will be able to explore up to seven rock castles built into breathtakingly steep sandstone reefs. To give yourself sufficient time it is recommended to take the tour in two days and spend the night in the "Hôtels au Naturel" which also arrange for the transportation of your luggage and your return transfer. The hike starts with a short passage to the Col du Litschhof where you will impinge upon the GR 53 route which will lead you in the proper direction until you have reached your destination. Your first goal is to reach steeply rising Schlossberg (2) holding the ruins of Löwenstein and Hohenburg. On the Sentier des Roches (rock path) – which can be also be bypassed on a different version of this tour – you will reach Fleckenstein-castle (3), the sight of which has been fascinating for the whole first part of the tour. The ruins of the Froensburg
(4), the twin castle Old- and New-Wasigenstein (5) and the castle of Klein-Arnsberg above Obersteinbach (5) are very different.  
Like a wizard’s castle from a fairy-tale they appear out of the blue from the forest and don’t even seem to be castles at first sight. You can ascend to these rock castles on daring stairway paths and ladders.

Index Wandern ++ (Schwindelfreiheit für die Burgen notwendig!)
Start and destination Gimbelhof (Lembach), Niedersteinbach und/oder Obersteinbach
Anforderungen ca. 16 km / 5 - 6 Std.
Beschilderung des Club Vosgien / GR 53 roter Balken
Höhepunkte Ruine Löwenstein, Hohenburg, Sentier des Roches, Burg Fleckenstein, Froensburg, Zigeunerfelsen, Ruinen Alt- und Neu-Wasigenstein, Ruine Klein-Arnsberg
Einkehrmöglichkeiten
Hotel-Restaurant "Alsace Village" (Hôtel au Naturel) (Obersteinbach), Telefon +33 (0)3 88 09 50 59
Hotel-Restaurant "Au Cheval Blanc" (Hôtel au Naturel) (Niedersteinbach), Telefon +33 (0)3 88 09 55 31
Hotel-Restaurant "Le Gimbelhof", Telefon +33 (0)3 88 94 43 58
Wanderzeit ganzjährig, bei Schneelage abzuraten!
Literatur IGN Cartes de randonnée TOP 25 Nr. 3814 ET