Palatinate Forest: Up to the Devil's Table

Rocks, castles and hikers everywhere: Germany's largest contiguous stretch of forest is all about diversity. Climbers get their money's worth in the Palatinate Forest.

The Pfälzerwald-Nordvogesen biosphere reserve, for example, has a huge network of hiking trails. There are also many mountain bikers in its pine-clad mountains, because the mountainous country offers the best conditions for bikers. And yet another group of sportsmen finds ideal conditions: Climbers. Especially in the Schindharder Tal, rock climbers get their money's worth - there, where the walls bear such beautiful names as Honigfelsen, Kahles Wändchen or Nonnenfels.

However, the region is also attractive for people without extreme sporting ambitions: The Dahn Castle Group, which consists of the medieval rock castles of Altdahn, Grafendahn and Tanstein, is a pretty, romantic hiking destination and well prepared for visitors. Guided tours are offered on the history, architecture and former life at the castles, and for refreshments, head to the hearty castle tavern. In Hauenstein in the southwest Palatinate, guests have an unobstructed view of the Teufelstisch (Devil's Table), a 14-meter-high rock reminiscent of a mushroom. Refreshment, on the other hand, is provided by numerous bodies of water - the region is rich in springs, streams, ponds and mountain lakes, which lie idyllically in meadow valleys and forests. Our tip: The Wasgau Lakes Tour, just under 20 kilometers long and with a dream view, for example from Lindelskopf.

The Pfalzcard, which allows you to use buses and regional trains free of charge in the entire area covered by the Rhine-Neckar Transport Association, is given to you by your host - it cannot be purchased anywhere. Bonus: A variety of leisure services are also free with the Pfalzcard. More info.
By the way, you can find tips on how to travel comfortably and inexpensively on long-distance and local trains with Deutsche Bahn here.