Hauenstein

Hauenstein combines a distinctive theme with a specific trail starting point: at the Schuhfabrik Visitor Centre, you can watch shoes being made live, while the Pälzer Keschdeweg begins at the German Shoe Museum. This gives you three different focal points when planning your stay: shoe production, a museum and a hiking stage in the Palatinate Forest.

Shoe Production and the Museum

At the Schuhfabrik Visitor Centre, you can watch shoes being made live; the shoes produced there are described as “100% Made in Germany”. The German Shoe Museum offers a historical perspective: it is housed in a former shoe factory and showcases the 140-year tradition of shoe production, the development of the shoe industry in the Southern Palatinate and the process of making shoes. The factory and the museum thus offer two different ways to explore the subject: a close-up view of production and a historical perspective on tradition and industrial development. Check the visitor information for the Schuhfabrik Visitor Centre before your visit.

Getting to Hauenstein

You can reach Hauenstein by train on the Landau–Pirmasens Queichtal line. The station is about two kilometres from the German Shoe Museum; parking is available at the museum. The relevant details therefore vary depending on how you travel: by train, the distance between the station and the museum matters; by car, parking at the museum is worth noting. Check train connections and parking options before you set off.

The Pälzer Keschdeweg

The Pälzer Keschdeweg begins at the German Shoe Museum in Hauenstein and leads through the Palatinate Forest towards the German Wine Route. The landscape includes extensive sweet chestnut forests. The first stage, from Hauenstein to Annweiler, is about 14 kilometres long. Check trail conditions before setting out.

Southern Palatinate: More Regional Highlights

The Palatinate Forest shapes the landscape of the Southern Palatinate. Well-maintained, waymarked trails lead through dense forests, over gentle hills and past striking red sandstone formations. The Devil’s Table near Hinterweidenthal is 14 metres high and a popular excursion destination. The Altschlossfelsen premium hiking trail leads to the rock formation of the same name, a massif about 1.5 kilometres long.

The castles offer a glimpse into the region’s history: Gräfenstein Castle offers insights into medieval life. Berwartstein Castle is the only castle complex in the Palatinate that is still inhabited today. Alt-Dahn is one of the three Dahn castles, which are popular excursion destinations.

Another focus is on relaxation, sport and food. Felsland Badeparadies in Dahn is known as a place for relaxation and wellness. Mountain bikers from all over Germany take part in the WasgauBike Marathon. The German-French farmers’ market in Hinterweidenthal offers culinary highlights. If you’re planning your trip around the marathon or the market, check the dates in advance.

Discover more destinations: Eppenbrunn, Pirmasens, Niederschlettenbach, Rumbach, Busenberg, Rodalben, Heltersberg, Hirschthal

For the regional travel overview: Southern Palatinate.