Frankweiler: Forest Trails and History

Frankweiler combines hiking with archaeological sites: a signposted access path leads from the village square to the “Traumschleife Baybachtal” trail. The “Tracing the Past in Frankweiler Forest” archaeological circular trail also lies in Frankweiler Forest. The Lippertsweg also passes through Frankweiler and other districts. The different trails offer a range of distances and focuses to help you plan your outings.

Following the Forest’s History

The “Tracing the Past in Frankweiler Forest” trail is about 3.5 kilometres long. Its surfaced paths run through a continuous woodland area and have only a few metres of elevation gain. Information boards explain the significance and use of this area of woodland. The circular trail also conveys that the forest was important as far back as Celtic and Roman times. “Surfaced paths” describes the trail surface, while the few metres of elevation gain describe the route’s changes in elevation.

The archaeological sites include Roman funerary gardens and a prehistoric group of burial mounds. Both offer insight into life and funerary customs in earlier eras. The circular hiking trail takes you through 3,000 years of history; geocaching locations add another activity to the archaeological exploration. The route thus offers both historical traces and the opportunity to go geocaching.

The trail can be reached via the entrance by the Frankweiler sports ground, continuing to the car park by the wind turbine, or via the car park at the Braunshorn sports ground. Check access conditions locally before setting out; trail conditions may also change.

The Lippertsweg: Several Districts and Different Route Lengths

The Lippertsweg offers a different scale of route. It was officially opened on 16 September 2018 and connects Beltheim, Mannebach, Heyweiler, Frankweiler, Sevenich and Schnellbach via old paths. The route is about 26 kilometres long in total. It passes through the typical landscapes of the Vorderhunsrück, where fields, forests and stream valleys alternate.

A signposted connecting route between Beltheim and Frankweiler makes it possible to split the Lippertsweg into two shorter day hikes of about 15 kilometres each. This gives you two stage options in addition to the full route. Compared with the forest loop, which is about 3.5 kilometres long, the Lippertsweg is considerably longer and connects several districts. The approximate distances will help you gauge the scope of each hike when planning your outing.

Another Look at Local History

The Catholic church in Frankweiler is another focus of cultural and historical interest. It was built in 1756. Its main structure is Baroque-classical in style, while its interior furnishings are classified as Late Baroque. The two stylistic descriptions refer to different aspects of the same building: its main structure and its interior furnishings. The church thus adds another chapter to the local history, complementing the archaeological sites in the forest.

Discover more destinations: Oberwesel, Buch, Woppenroth, Emmelshausen, Damscheid, Sohrschied, Niederburg, Schwall.

View the regional travel overview: Rhine-Hunsrück.