Krickenbach: Schweinstal Valley and Sandstone Art

For a stay in Krickenbach, the route through Schweinstal Valley and its sandstone art offer specific points of interest. The lake district, 13 sculptures along the route and the local use of sandstone bring together landscape, art and local history. The Maypole Festival and summer sculpture courses are also worth considering, and their dates are important for planning a trip.

Explore Schweinstal Valley on foot or by bicycle

The route through Schweinstal Valley follows a lake district and is well developed. Starting from federal highway 270, you can walk it in the direction of Queidersbach; you can also cycle along it. Along the route are 13 sandstone sculptures created by artists. Landscape and art come together on the same route. The 13 works were created in 1986 as part of the first sculpture symposium in Rhineland-Palatinate, giving Schweinstal Valley a cultural and historical dimension as well.

Sandstone sculptures

Individual works showcase different forms and ways of working with the material. Michael Dan’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. They form a space that visitors can enter. By contrast, Albert Hettinger’s “Up and Down” features two large sandstone blocks and stands 5.5 metres high. These works offer a chance to consider different aspects of sandstone art, including how the material is worked, the effect of the space and scale.

Stonework in the surrounding area

The Carl Picard natural stone works, located in Schweinstal Valley, includes sandstone quarries and a sawmill. The works processes sandstone from its own quarries. The connection to locally sourced materials is also visible in the surrounding area: red sandstone, masonry, facade cladding and sculptures are testament to the specialist firm Carl Picard and its products. The sandstone used for the 2009 sculpture symposium in Krickenbach came from the Krickenbach Natural Stone Park, owned by Jürgen Picard. Its origin adds another facet of local sandstone tradition to the sculptures.

The church and events throughout the year

Krickenbach Protestant Church was also built from local material: it was constructed in 1964–1965 from red sandstone sourced from the surrounding area and has largely retained its original form to this day. Recurring events, too, can provide a reason to visit. The Maypole Festival takes place every year in and in front of the “In den Dorfwiesen” multipurpose hall. Every summer, sculpture courses led by Willi Bauer are held in the Picard company’s sandstone quarry in Schweinstal Valley. If you would like to plan your trip around the festival or a course, check the current dates in advance.

When planning, it is useful to distinguish between the local features and the events scheduled for specific dates: the route, sculptures and church reflect Krickenbach’s landscape and building culture, while the Maypole Festival and sculpture courses take place annually and in summer, respectively. This can help you decide whether you would like to focus your stay on a route through Schweinstal Valley, sandstone art or a specific event.

Discover more destinations: Schopp, Schwedelbach, Kindsbach, Bruchmühlbach-Miesau, Hohenecken, Mehlingen, Kreuzhof, Enkenbach-Alsenborn.

For the broader travel overview: Kaiserslautern.