Eppenbrunn – Sandstone, History and Border Trails

Eppenbrunn lies on the Palatinate-Lorraine border, where the Palatinate Forest Biosphere Reserve meets the Northern Vosges. The town is a state-recognized climatic health resort. For trip planning, its border location, sandstone formations and hiking trails come together here. Depending on your interests, you can explore Altschlossfelsen and its historical associations, choose hikes of varying lengths, or look into local leisure activities.

Sandstone and History at Altschlossfelsen

Altschlossfelsen is a sandstone reef about 1.3 kilometers long and is considered the longest of its kind in the Palatinate. In 1991, it was placed under monument protection as a valuable cultural monument. The image of Diana carved into the rock recalls the Romans’ passage through the area. If you want to combine nature and history at one destination, you’ll find both here at the same rock formation.

The Southwest Palatinate as a Regional Setting

In the wider Southwest Palatinate travel region, the Palatinate Forest shapes the landscape; well-developed, marked trails lead through dense forests, over gentle hills and past striking red sandstone cliffs. The Teufelstisch near Hinterweidenthal is also in the Southwest Palatinate: The rock is 14 meters high and a popular destination for day trips.

Hikes and Viewpoints

The ten-kilometer Altschlosspfad is considered a family-friendly premium hiking trail along the German-French border. It leads to Altschlossfelsen and the Quellbäche des Eppenbrunner Baches nature reserve in the Palatinate Forest Biosphere Reserve. One section is marked as the Way of St. James and forms part of a medieval pilgrimage route. The Grenzweg Eppenbrunn is a circular route about twelve kilometers long, starting at Spießweiher. It follows the German-French border and leads to Altschlossfelsen. Both trails therefore reach the same rock formation; based on their stated lengths, the Altschlosspfad is about two kilometers shorter. The Way of St. James section and the nature reserve are features of the Altschlosspfad, while the Grenzweg is described as a circular route starting at Spießweiher. As a circular route, it returns to its starting point at Spießweiher.

The Eulenfels Tour focuses on the views: It reaches a sandstone formation from which you can look across the Palatinate Forest as far as Götzenbruck in France. This offers a different focus from the historical associations at Altschlossfelsen.

Leisure Activities Beyond the Hiking Trails

Eppenbrunn offers other leisure activities beyond its hiking trails. The Eppenbrunn leisure park includes a playground, sports equipment and a Kneipp facility. A local provider offers donkey hikes around Eppenbrunn with trained donkeys. The experience includes an introduction to leading, saddling, packing and handling the animals. The hike combines practical tasks with a guided opportunity to spend time with donkeys. The Eppenbrunn Adventure Golf Park has twelve holes and offers a different focus from the hiking routes: Here, the game itself is the activity.

Discover More Destinations

Hinterweidenthal, Dietrichingen, Rodalben, Contwig, Lemberg, Schönau, Erfweiler, Walshausen

Back to the regional travel overview: Southwest Palatinate.