Auen: Forest Chapel and Willigis Vital Hiking Trail

In Auen, a long-distance hiking trail and a forest chapel with its own architectural history come together. The approximately 20-kilometre-long Willigis Vital Hiking Trail leads around and through the village, passing directly by the Willigis Chapel and the grave of the Hunter of the Palatinate. Hiking and cultural points of interest are therefore among the specific themes to explore during a stay.

Hiking and Architectural History in Auen

The St. Willigis Chapel in the forest is a cultural monument. It incorporates the choir of a Romanesque church, which was altered in the Early Gothic period and restored in 1912. The building thus brings together different periods of its history: Romanesque origins, an Early Gothic alteration, and a restoration in the 20th century. The grave of the Hunter of the Palatinate is another named point of interest along the trail.

The approximate 20-kilometre length gives you a concrete idea of the scale when planning your hike. There are places to sit along the hiking trails around Auen, and two inns in the village serve meals. If you plan to stop for a meal, check the opening hours in advance. The seating areas and inns are separate points of reference in the village and along the trails.

Bad Kreuznach: Cultural and Leisure Highlights in the Wider Destination

The wider Bad Kreuznach destination offers further architectural and cultural highlights. The bridge houses in Bad Kreuznach were built from 1480 onward due to a lack of space. They are half-timbered buildings on the pillars of the old Nahe Bridge, which was built around 1300. Their construction brings together two distinct dates: the older bridge and the houses built later.

The museums of the city of Bad Kreuznach are housed in the listed former Bangert manor, set in a historic park. The museums have been located there since 1985/86. Another cultural stop is the organ ART Museum in Windesheim: it is a musical instrument museum and unique of its kind in Germany.

The Felseneremitage in Bretzenheim is a place of worship carved entirely into the rock. It probably originated in prehistoric times and was repurposed in the Early Christian period. It can be viewed from the outside year-round without a guide; access to the rock dwelling is currently not possible due to a rockfall. The exterior view and restricted access to the rock dwelling are different visiting conditions to bear in mind when planning your visit.

For a different kind of activity, there is the barefoot path in Bad Sobernheim. The 3.5-kilometre footpath leads to the Nahe and includes a clay-treading basin, an agility course, and various types of ground surface. It is designated as a summer leisure activity. The Hahnenbachtal Tour in the Kirner Land also offers a hiking highlight: the route, certified as a Dream Loop, took first place in the day hikes category of the “Germany’s Most Beautiful Hiking Trails” competition in 2012. The Salinental between Bad Kreuznach and Bad Münster rounds out this selection as a unique cultural landscape steeped in history.

You can tailor your search to the kind of trip you have in mind. For information on stays, accommodation and bookings, as well as leisure activities, wellness, wine and food in the Naheland, contact the tourist information offices of the municipalities and towns in the district, or Naheland Touristik in Kirn.

Discover more destinations: Seesbach

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