Routes

Planner

Features

Updates

App

Get the App

Castles

Bacharach town wall and Stahleck Castle

Castles

Bacharach town wall and Stahleck Castle

Highlight • Castle

Bacharach town wall and Stahleck Castle

Recommended by 599 hikers out of 618

This Highlight is in a protected area

Please check local regulations for:

UNESCO Welterbe Kulturlandschaft Oberes Mittelrheintal

Save

Location: Bacharach, Mainz-Bingen, Rhenish Hesse, Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany

Save

See hikes here

Take Me There

Routes here

Best Hikes to Bacharach town wall and Stahleck Castle

4.8

(291)

1,210

hikers

1. Ruins of Stahlberg Castle – View of Burg Stahleck loop from Bacharach

13.9km

04:13

450m

Moderate hike. Good fitness required. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.

Navigate

Send to Phone

Save

Moderate

4.9

(299)

941

hikers

2. Stahleck Castle – Ruins of Stahlberg Castle loop from Bacharach

12.0km

03:32

330m

Moderate hike. Good fitness required. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.

Navigate

Send to Phone

Save

Moderate

4.7

(74)

273

hikers

3. Altes Haus, Oberstraße – Eselspfad Trail loop from Bacharach

10.8km

03:08

270m

Moderate hike. Good fitness required. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.

Navigate

Send to Phone

Save

Moderate

Tips

Stephan N

October 27, 2019

Only the foundations of the city wall surrounding Bacharach remain for the most part.

Of the original 16 city gates, 9 are still standing.

These can be explored on the city wall trail, which offers many beautiful views of the city.

Highly recommended!

Construction of the city wall began in 1344 and was completed around 1400. The city was now enclosed by a semicircular defensive wall with 16 towers. Four of the towers were destroyed by the French in 1689. In the 19th century, under the influence of Napoleonic laws, the main street (today Oberstraße) was widened by setting back the houses, resulting in the demolition of two more towers.

The gate towers (from north to south: Münztor, Markttor, Krahntor) were originally open to the inside, but were later rebuilt with timber framing and partially used as residences.

In the southern wall, which climbs the slope of the Kühlberg hill in a wide arc towards Stahleck Castle, only the low Hutturm tower remains. In the northern wall, which runs through the vineyards along the slope of the opposite Vogtberg hill, stands the Postenturm tower, originally rebuilt in 1899 as a water reservoir. This function has since been abandoned, and the tower facing the town has been reopened. Today, it is one of the few towers open to the public. From here, there is a remarkable view of the Rhine Valley.

The wooden gate (Steegertor) at the western corner of the fortifications has retained its original roof and timber-framed structure. To the south, a remnant of the original wooden roof over the parapet walk can be seen. Halfway up the slope between the wooden gate and Stahleck Castle stands the Liebesturm (Love Tower).

Source:
bacharach.de/stadtinformationen/stadtrundgang/die-stadtbefestigung

Translated by Google •

🇺🇦Uwe 🏃‍♂️1098🏍

June 16, 2022

The city wall once had a length of more than 2.5 km and not only had the task to protect the citizens from attacks, but also to show power and wealth to the outside with the number of towers and elaborate decorations. The wall is no longer completely accessible, but from time to time you can walk a few meters on the circular path. At least 16 of the original 22 towers are still standing.

Translated by Google •

Dieter

October 18, 2025

You walk to and from the castle along the old city wall.

Translated by Google •

Details

Informations

Elevation 180 m

Weather

Sunday 7 December

13°C

9°C

26 %

If you start your activity now...

Max wind speed: 9.0 km/h

Most visited during

January

February

March

April

May

June

July

August

September

October

November

December

See hikes here

Take Me There

Location: Bacharach, Mainz-Bingen, Rhenish Hesse, Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany

Other Popular Places to Check Out

Stahlberg Castle Ruins

View of the Rhine and Fürstenberg Castle Ruins

Views of the Rhine and Pfalzgrafenstein Castle from the Rheinsteig Trail (Lorch to Kaub)

View of Burg Stahleck

Relax Loungers with View of the Rhine and Bacharach

View of the Rhine Near Langscheid

View of Bacharach and Burg Stahleck

View of Kaub and Pfalzgrafenstein Castle

View of Oberdiebach and Manubach

Picnic Bench with View of Lorchhausen and the Rhine Valley

Kranenturm

Bacharach town wall and Stahleck Castle

1. Ruins of Stahlberg Castle – View of Burg Stahleck loop from Bacharach

2. Stahleck Castle – Ruins of Stahlberg Castle loop from Bacharach

3. Altes Haus, Oberstraße – Eselspfad Trail loop from Bacharach

Other Popular Places to Check Out

We value your privacy ⛰️

We value your privacy ⛰️