Discover Sonnschied: Village History and Hiking Trails

Sonnschied lies on a rise south of the Hahnenbach, at an elevation of around 400 metres. From here, the view extends from west to southeast. To the north of the village, beyond the Hahnenbach, lies the Lützelsoon, which continues into the Soonwald. Together, the Lützelsoon and Soonwald form one of the largest contiguous forest areas in Rhineland-Palatinate. This makes it easy to combine your stay with the village’s history and add trails through forests, fields and open countryside.

Landscape and Trails Around Sonnschied

Hikes from Sonnschied head in several directions through forests, fields and open natural landscapes. A trail over a wooded hill near the village offers additional views to the south. North of Sonnschied, at Rudolfshaus, the Soonwaldsteig reaches a quiet stretch of the Hahnenbach valley that is not served by any single road. Hikes here offer a variety of landscapes: open spaces, forest and the Hahnenbach valley.

Church and Architectural History

The Protestant village church dates from 1729 and is still regularly used for Protestant services. Another historic building is the transverse house at Hauptstraße 8. Partly built in half-timbering, it dates from 1868 and is considered a defining feature of the village’s appearance. The church and transverse house show different sides of Sonnschied’s history: the village church’s continuing religious use and a distinctive historic building style.

Hiking Destinations and Stages

Destinations along marked hiking trails from Sonnschied include the medieval ruins of Hellkirch Church. A marked trail also leads to the large Schmidtburg castle complex. A faithfully reconstructed Celtic settlement is another destination accessible on marked hikes from Sonnschied. Those who enjoy discovering historic places on foot can include a variety of themes in their choice of route.

Stage 14 of the Saar-Hunsrück-Steig runs from Herrstein through Sonnschied to the Forellenhof Reinhardtsmühle near Bundenbach. Another route option is the Kirn–Bundenbach stage of the Soonwaldsteig: it is around 10 kilometres long and takes about five hours. These details may change if the route is altered. Bus services run from Idar-Oberstein and Fischbach-Weierbach to Herrstein for the Saar-Hunsrück-Steig stage; a return service from the Forellenhof Reinhardtsmühle goes via Kirn railway station. Check the timetables before setting out.

Cycling and Mining History

The panoramic tour on the Sonnenplateau also passes through Sonnschied. It runs from Berschweiler bei Kirn via Herrstein to Fischbach. The tour is 39.2 kilometres long, can be ridden in either direction or shortened, and is considered particularly suitable for e-bikes or sporty riders due to its varied topography. Check the route information again before setting out.

The Herrenberg visitor mine near Bundenbach is a slate mine. A trail to the visitor mine passes mining remains, including a narrow-gauge railway, a tunnel and spoil heaps. This makes it possible to combine a hike with insights into slate mining. Check access to the visitor mine before your trip.

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