Discover Rodenbach: Princely Tomb, Art and Nature

Rodenbach, a municipality in the Kaiserslautern district of Rhineland-Palatinate, brings together a Celtic princely tomb, art along the trail, village history and active experiences. This gives you a choice of different focuses when planning your trip: history and sculptures, hiking and cycling, or time by the water.

Celtic Heritage and Village History

The princely tomb of Rodenbach is a Celtic burial mound discovered in 1874 and dated to around 400 BC. During its reconstruction in 2000, the burial chamber and grave goods were restored. The dates take you from the archaeological find back to Celtic times; the reconstruction tells another chapter of its story. Group tours can be arranged in advance.

You can also plan your journey to the princely tomb in practical terms: Bus route 140 goes to the Rodenbach Schwimmbad stop; from there, continue along Sportstraße. Check the timetable before travelling. Another part of the town’s history is the bell tower, built in 1911 and a landmark of Rodenbach. The village forge is still operational; tours are available on request. Together, archaeological heritage, a distinctive building and traditional craftsmanship offer different cultural interests.

Sculpture Trail, Hiking and Cycling

The Rodenbach Sculpture Trail is a three-kilometre circular route that is easy to walk. It starts at the village square on Turnerstraße. Along the way, you can discover 19 works of art on the themes of water and the Celts. These motifs reflect themes that also feature in Rodenbach’s history, making the route a cultural highlight in its own right.

For those weighing up different hiking themes, there is also the themed Prehistory and Early History Trail, which brings together landscape, art and history. The Monastery Route of the Way of St James also passes through Rodenbach, Weilerbach and Mackenbach. St Mary’s Catholic Church in Rodenbach is a pilgrim stamp station on this route. For cyclists, a section of the Barbarossa Cycle Route runs through Mackenbach, Weilerbach and Rodenbach. Art and the Celts, prehistory and early history, the pilgrimage route and the cycle route each offer their own focus, without requiring the same kind of tour planning for every route.

Water and Nature

Rodenbach Forest Outdoor Pool has a 50-metre swimming pool with six lanes and diving facilities. Below the forest outdoor pool, in a wooded area, you’ll find Rodenbach Minigolf, with 18 holes. Swimming and minigolf are two different ways to enjoy an active stay. For a different perspective on nature, visit the Krausen Bruch nature reserve in Rodenbach, known for its distinctive flora and fauna.

When choosing a place to stay, you can focus on the experiences you want to shape your trip: Rodenbach offers specific ways to explore everything from archaeological history and art to hiking and cycling routes, swimming and minigolf.

More Places to Visit in the Kaiserslautern Region

Other places in the wider Kaiserslautern region add to the choice of cultural and nature experiences. The abbey church in Otterberg dates from the 12th century and is considered a monumental masterpiece of early Gothic architecture. Nanstein Castle is a landmark of the town of Landstuhl, associated with the Sickingen family, and offers far-reaching views across the West Palatinate. In Mehlingen, the Mehlinger Heide is considered the largest heathland area in southern Germany. Its approximately 1.5-kilometre heathland discovery trail features information boards and stations and connects to the Palatinate Forest hiking network.

The regional food and drink scene is also rooted in the area: restaurants, traditional wine taverns and vinotheques in the Weilerbach collective municipality offer Palatinate cuisine, regional wines and other culinary experiences.

Discover more destinations: Erlenbach, Hauptstuhl, Krickenbach, Kaiserslautern, Steinwenden, Hochspeyer, Schopp, Dansenberg.

Back to the regional travel overview: Kaiserslautern.