Pfalzfeld Between Cycling History and the Baybach Springs

Pfalzfeld brings two ways of exploring within reach: the Schinderhannes Cycle Path on a former railway line and the Baybach Springs hiking route, with paths through woods and meadows. There are also places of historical interest, such as the water tower and copies of the Celtic column. If you are looking for accommodation in Pfalzfeld, you can plan your days around cycling, hiking or a mix of both. Places to eat and bicycle services are also practical options to consider when planning your trip.

Hiking around the Baybach Springs

The Baybach Springs hiking route is a joint project by Pfalzfeld, Lingerhahn and Hausbay. It follows forest and meadow paths and offers wide-ranging views along the way. Its route is based on the spring streams that converge in Hausbay to form the Baybach; 32 kilometres later, the stream reaches the Moselle.

Attractions along the route include the Pfalzfeld Obelisk; the water tower at the railway station can also be seen along the way. There are rest areas with loungers and benches at Pfalzfeld Market. A drinks tree stands there roughly halfway along the route; this attraction includes two natural seating areas. The hiking car park near Gleis 3 is the route’s starting and finishing point. As of 2022, it had space for 25 cars and two motorhomes.

A former railway line turned cycle path

The 18-metre-high water tower at Pfalzfeld railway station recalls the town’s railway history. After the Boppard–Simmern railway was built in 1906, water towers supplied operational water for steam locomotives. When rail traffic ended in 1988 and the tracks were removed, the Schinderhannes Cycle Path from Pfalzfeld to Simmern was created on the former railway bed. The wider regional route covers 38 kilometres along the former railway line between Emmelshausen, Kastellaun and Simmern/Hunsrück.

The Celtic column is another notable feature of the town’s history. The original is in the Rheinisches Landesmuseum in Bonn; copies stand in Pfalzfeld town centre and beside the Schinderhannes Cycle Path. This brings two different traces together on one trip: the conversion of the former railway line and a monument whose original is now kept elsewhere.

Gleis 3: regional food and bicycle services

Gleis 3 is next to the Schinderhannes Cycle Path and serves regional food, with seating indoors and in the beer garden. Its facilities include bicycle repairs, e-bike charging, a nature-friendly playground and boules. It makes a useful addition to a day’s plans alongside exploring the route: you can stop for a meal and use bicycle services in one place, while the cycle path itself traces the former railway line.

The wider Rhein-Hunsrück region

The wider travel destination of Rhein-Hunsrück opens up a broader view of the landscape. The Rhein-Hunsrück district covers large areas of the Hunsrück, part of the Rhenish Slate Mountains, as well as the Upper Middle Rhine Valley on the left bank of the Rhine. It includes large parts of the Hunsrück plateau and the quartzite ridges to the south, such as the Soonwald; in the Middle Rhine Valley, the Rhine also forms the district’s eastern boundary.

The region’s wider range of activities also belongs to this broader picture: the Rhein-Hunsrück district has numerous hiking trails, including the certified Soonwaldsteig premium hiking trail. Extensive, well-developed and signposted cycle paths run along the Rhine and through the Hunsrück. Regional specialities and Middle Rhine wines from high-quality vineyards are also among the district’s highlights. This context complements Pfalzfeld’s specific trails and attractions without implying that they are the same as the offerings across the entire Rhein-Hunsrück district.

Discover more destinations: Lautzenhausen, Schlierschied, Simmern/Hunsrück, Reckershausen, Halsenbach, Niederkumbd, Bickenbach, Alterkülz.

Go to the main travel overview: Rhein-Hunsrück.