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Germany
Rhineland-Palatinate
Rhenish Hesse
Mainz-Bingen
Niederheimbach

Heimburg (Hohneck Castle) and Fairy Tale Trail

Discover
Places to see

Castles

Germany
Rhineland-Palatinate
Rhenish Hesse
Mainz-Bingen
Niederheimbach

Heimburg (Hohneck Castle) and Fairy Tale Trail

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Heimburg (Hohneck Castle) and Fairy Tale Trail

Recommended by 163 hikers out of 176

This Highlight is in a protected area

Please check local regulations for: UNESCO Welterbe Kulturlandschaft Oberes Mittelrheintal

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

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    Best Hikes to Heimburg (Hohneck Castle) and Fairy Tale Trail

    4.8

    (185)

    636

    hikers

    1. Martin Trail – Hail Cross loop from Rheindiebach

    29.0km

    08:59

    1,040m

    1,040m

    Hard hike. Very good fitness required. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.

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    Hard

    3.7

    (3)

    35

    hikers

    2. Buckerborn Spring and Shelter – Martin Trail loop from Oberheimbach

    11.3km

    03:41

    540m

    540m

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

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    Moderate

    4.7

    (18)

    70

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    3. Wurschberg Viewpoint – Speierbaum (267 m) loop from Niederheimbach

    9.30km

    02:41

    240m

    240m

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

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    Moderate

    Tips

    July 29, 2018

    Like so many other castles on the Rhine, Hohneck Castle was severely damaged during the Palatinate War of Succession in 1689. The ruins fell into disrepair until they were bought up at the end of the 19th century and restored as a residential building. The foundation walls date back to the Middle Ages, while the new part of the building was added in the neo-Gothic style. The castle is privately owned and cannot be visited.

    You will also find many fairy tale characters on the hiking trails along the castle. They are part of the fairy tale grove, which opened in 1931. Try and see if you recognize all the fairy tales.

    Translated by Google ‱

      July 4, 2019

      The Heimburg (also called Hohneck Castle) was built in the years 1290-1305 as a security against the Palatinate-Count Castle Reichenstein von Kurmainz on a hill above the place. It was the seat of a lower court from 1459 to 1461 and was re-fortified from 1475 to 1482. It fell into disrepair since the 16th century and was destroyed by the French in 1689. The reconstruction was carried out at the end of the 19th century by Hugo Stinnes. The foundation walls under the square complex date from the Middle Ages. There are neo-Gothic additions between the round towers and the shield wall. A nursery is located in the vicinity of the Heimburg today.
      The castle cannot be visited as it is privately owned.

      Translated by Google ‱

        January 10, 2019

        It is always a special experience to walk the Kuhweg / MĂ€rchenweg.

        Translated by Google ‱

          December 11, 2019

          Great route with fairy tale insert in beautiful nature.

          Translated by Google ‱

            March 17, 2024

            Hohneck Castle or Heimburg was built around 1294/1315 by the Electorate of Mainz as a hilltop castle and reinforced as a border castle by the Archbishop of Mainz from 1315 to 1328.

            Translated by Google ‱

              October 18, 2020

              Is this tour also accessible with an all-terrain stroller?

              Translated by Google ‱

                July 5, 2025

                "At the time when Heimburg was still called 'Hohneck,' a knight named Kuno lived there. However, his luck was not on his side, as he lost his beloved wife during the birth of his first child. He named his daughter after her mother, Kunigunde, and raised her as one should raise a son. Kunigunde learned everything a knight had to learn at that time. She enthusiastically hunted with her father.
                When she was 18, her father died. To avoid the constant harassment of Knight Sibor of Lorch, she decided to marry her lover, a young knight from Flörsheim, as soon as possible.
                Shortly before the wedding, as she was about to go hunting once more, she met a well-known old fortune teller. In anticipation of the upcoming wedding, Kunigunde cheekily asked her about her fate.
                'Poor child,' the old woman replied, 'you carry an arrow in your quiver that will kill your beloved.' Cunegonde laughed, swung herself onto her horse, and called to the old woman: 'You're sorely mistaken! My arrows have never hurt a person. I'm a master hunter!'
                Cunegonde didn't hear what the old woman said, as she had long since galloped off on her horse. A short time later, Cunegonde saw a bird of prey circling in the air above a meadow valley, looking for prey. Cunegonde didn't hesitate long, grabbed an arrow, and aimed at the bird. Fatally wounded, it fell to the ground. But Cunegonde paid no further attention.
                ..."

                Translated by Google ‱

                  July 5, 2025

                  "...
                  She hadn't noticed that Sibor was stalking her again. He took the arrow bearing the Hohneck coat of arms, without initially pursuing any intention. But when he soon saw Kunigunde's fiancée approaching, he hid and shot him from ambush with Kunigunde's arrow.
                  Lumberjacks didn't find the dead man until the next day. Kunigunde was deeply shocked when she realized that her fiancée had been killed with the arrow she had shot at the bird of prey.
                  Thus, the old woman's prophecy had tragically come true. Knight Sibor didn't survive the murder for long. After a night of heavy drinking, he fell from his horse in the Sauer Valley and broke his neck.
                  Kunigunde withdrew completely from the outside world. She built a nunnery near Hohneck and named it Sweet Church. She lived there until her death. Remains of the walls of this monastery are said to still exist today. "
                  sagen.at/texte/sagen/deutschland/rheinland_pfalz/kunigundehohneck.html

                  Translated by Google ‱

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                    Elevation 170 m

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

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