Kempfeld: Wildenburg, Forest and Regional Discoveries

Kempfeld offers a variety of experiences: nearby Wildenburg Castle and its rebuilt tower showcase architectural history, scenic views and climbing; the Wildenburg Wildlife Park combines forest walks with wildlife watching. In the district of Katzenloch, former mills point to the area’s industrial history. When planning your trip, you can choose between nature experiences, the area’s craft heritage and other destinations in the wider Birkenfeld destination.

Forest, Wildenburg Castle and Wildlife Encounters

Wildenburg Castle was built in 1330 by Wildgraf Friedrich von Kyburg. Its rebuilt, 22-metre-high tower stands on quartzite rock and, in clear weather, offers far-reaching views across the Hunsrück. Climbing at the tower is free year-round and at your own risk. The construction period, rock and views bring together history, geology and landscape.

At the Wildenburg Wildlife Park, visitors can walk through the forest, feed and pet goats and sheep, and see deer up close. Wolves and wildcats can also be spotted. Playgrounds and a kiosk serving ice cream and light snacks round out the facilities. A forest walk and wildlife watching can thus be enjoyed alongside the more active option of climbing at Wildenburg Castle—different ideas for spending time outdoors together.

Craft Heritage in Katzenloch

Katzenloch, a district of Kempfeld, has an industrial history linked to an agate grinding mill from the 18th century and a hammer mill founded in 1758. The former sawmill site is now home to a restaurant displaying sawmill machinery and a jewellery and mineral shop. The history of milling offers a different focus from the nature experiences around Wildenburg Castle: here, the emphasis is on former trades and the processing of materials.

Getting to the Wildenburg National Park Gate

Bus services to the Wildenburg National Park Gate visitor centre include route 840 from the Idar-Oberstein/Wittlich rail connection and route 890 from the Neubrücke/Rhaunen rail connection. Check services before travelling, as bus routes may change.

In the Wider Birkenfeld Destination

Part of the Hunsrück-Hochwald National Park lies in the Birkenfeld collective municipality. The wider Birkenfeld destination also offers trails of varying lengths and themes. The 2.5-kilometre Götterallee runs between the local municipalities of Schwollen and Leisel and features ten life-size, colourful statues of gods. The Obere Nahe Water Experience Trail in Hoppstädten-Weiersbach is one kilometre long and has four access points. It shares information about aquatic life in the Upper Nahe, including barbel and gudgeon; waterbirds such as kingfishers and dippers; and dragonfly species such as the common damselfly and river hawker. The trails’ lengths and themes offer a concrete comparison between an art trail and a nature trail.

The “In the Land of Kites, Storks and More” Nature Experience Trail has 18 stops around Niederhambach, Schmißberg and Rimsberg. Near Schmißberg, it includes an aviary housing the stork pair Lotte and Bernie; the trail also provides information about the habitats of red kites, black storks and other species. Another nature-focused attraction is the 1.6-kilometre National Park Island Loop around Börfink and Thranenweier. Its information boards cover the rare and endangered arnica meadows, their formation and conservation, as well as the diversity of species found there.

The wider Birkenfeld destination also offers a dedicated option for cyclists: the RadLust WasserTräume loop starts in Birkenfeld, passes through Brücken and Abentheuer, goes by a historic ironworks and then follows the edge of the national park along the old Erzweg towards the Saarland border. Unlike the walking trails mentioned above, this route connects several places, includes a historic point along the way and has a clearly described direction of travel.

When looking for accommodation in Kempfeld, you can first decide whether Wildenburg Castle and the wildlife park or the milling history of Katzenloch should be your main focus. If you also include destinations in the wider Birkenfeld area, their themes and trail lengths offer further criteria for planning your trip.

Discover more destinations: Heimbach, Neubrücke, Kirschweiler, Hellertshausen, Niederhambach, Bundenbach, Baumholder, Brücken

View the wider travel overview: Birkenfeld.