Discover Sonnschied: Hiking and Village History

Sonnschied brings together a striking elevated setting, village history and trails through the landscape. If you are planning to go hiking or cycling on your trip, you will find a variety of tour themes and specific stages here. The church and a historic house also shape the character of the village.

Elevation and Landscape

Sonnschied lies at an elevation of around 400 metres on a rise south of the Hahnenbach. From there, views extend from west to southeast. North of the village, beyond the Hahnenbach, lies the Lützelsoon, which continues into the Soonwald. Together, the Lützelsoon and Soonwald form one of the largest contiguous forest areas in Rhineland-Palatinate. This setting provides a tangible backdrop to the different landscapes you can explore on a trip in and around Sonnschied.

From Sonnschied, trails lead in different directions on foot through forests, across fields and through open natural landscapes. A walk over a wooded hill near Sonnschied offers additional views to the south. Hiking plans can therefore include not only forest trails, but also open stretches and changing views.

Planning Hiking and Cycling Tours

Stage 14 of the Saar-Hunsrück-Steig runs from Herrstein through Sonnschied to the Forellenhof Reinhardtsmühle near Bundenbach. Buses from Idar-Oberstein and Fischbach-Weierbach to Herrstein are available for travelling to the stage; for the return journey, a connection runs from the Forellenhof Reinhardtsmühle via Kirn railway station. Check the timetable before your tour, as public transport connections may change.

Another hiking tour to compare is the Kirn–Bundenbach stage of the Soonwaldsteig: it is about ten kilometres long and takes approximately five hours. If a diversion is in place, the distance and duration may change, so check the details before setting out. These two figures give you a practical guide for planning how much time to allow for this stage.

Cyclists will also find a route that passes through Sonnschied: on its way from Berschweiler bei Kirn via Herrstein to Fischbach, the Panoramatour auf dem Sonnenplateau passes through the village. It is 39.2 kilometres long, can be ridden in either direction or shortened, and is considered particularly suitable for e-bikes or sporty riders because of its varied topography. Check the route and possible variations before setting out.

Church, Villagescape and Traces of Culture

The Protestant village church in Sonnschied dates from 1729 and is still regularly used for Protestant church services. The Quereinhaus at Hauptstraße 8 adds to the historic village centre: it dates from 1868, is partly timber-framed and is considered a defining feature of the village. The church and the house represent two different aspects of local history.

The medieval ruins of Hellkirch Church can be reached via a marked hiking trail from Sonnschied. Marked trails also lead to the Schmidtburg, which is considered a large castle complex. Another destination connected to these hiking trails is an authentically reconstructed Celtic settlement. The Herrenberg Visitor Mine, a slate mine, is near Bundenbach. Along the way to the mine, you will encounter mining relics such as a narrow-gauge railway, a tunnel entrance and spoil heaps. Check before travelling whether the mine is open to visitors.

In the wider Birkenfeld destination

The wider Birkenfeld destination also offers more themes to help plan your trip. Part of the Hunsrück-Hochwald National Park lies within the Birkenfeld collective municipality. The Birkenfeld State Museum has permanent exhibitions on the Celts and Romans; Birkenfeld and the Wittelsbachs; the iron industry in the Birkenfeld district; an old classroom from around 1930; and the Oldenburg period. These regional attractions are additions to a stay in Sonnschied, not features of the village itself.

Discover more destinations: Bundenbach, Elchweiler, Mackenrodt, Regulshausen, Hellertshausen, Oberkirn, Hammerstein, Stipshausen.

Go to the overview of the wider destination: Birkenfeld.