Walshausen between the Felsalb and the hill country

Walshausen combines hiking opportunities through forests and open countryside with the Felsalb, riding opportunities and local history, including the first recorded mention of the former settlement of Felsalben as Felsalbia in 888. The village is situated in the Zweibrücker hill country. When planning your trip, you can focus on trails and nature or explore historical traces in the village. The wider Südwestpfalz travel destination also offers further topics to discover.

Hiking and riding in Walshausen

In Walshausen, you can hike independently through forests and open countryside, follow signposted hiking trails, or take a barefoot path. This offers different ways to explore: set off on your own, follow a signposted trail, or choose the barefoot path. Local horse farms offer opportunities for riding in nature and riding facilities. Saga Reitschule Felsalbtal offers qualified riding lessons on Icelandic horses. If riding is important to your trip, check in advance what is currently available; commercial activities may change.

The Felsalb and local history

The Felsalb flows through Walshausen; in the village centre, the Weiherbach flows into the Felsalb. These are two distinct points of reference: the watercourse running through the village and the confluence in the centre.

The former settlement of Felsalben was first mentioned in 888 as Felsalbia. A purchase and distribution of land followed later: Walshausen bought the Felsalben district in 1730. In 1735, after disputes with neighbouring municipalities had been settled, the Felsalben lands were finally distributed among the citizens of Walshausen. The dates therefore refer to two different stages in the village’s history.

Two buildings also reflect different construction periods. Bahnhofstraße 6 is a 19th-century building with a broad-gabled hipped roof and an adjoining stable. Mühlstraße 3 is a former school: the plastered building, in the Neoclassical style and with a raised ground floor, was built in 1840/41 and extended in 1900. A 25-metre-long slide is considered an attraction for children. If you plan to visit specifically for this attraction, check its current condition before you go.

The wider Südwestpfalz travel destination

The Palatinate Forest shapes the landscape of the wider Südwestpfalz travel destination. Marked, well-maintained trails lead through dense forests, over gentle hills and past red sandstone rocks. The Altschlossfelsen premium hiking trail leads to the rock formation of the same name, a massif around 1.5 kilometres long. The Teufelstisch near Hinterweidenthal is 14 metres high and a popular excursion destination.

Cultural destinations in Südwestpfalz offer their own highlights: Gräfenstein Castle provides insights into medieval life; Berwartstein Castle is the only castle complex in the Palatinate that is still inhabited today. Alt-Dahn is one of the three Dahner castles described as popular excursion destinations. The German Shoe Museum in Hauenstein, housed in a former shoe factory, presents the 140-year tradition of shoe production, the development of the shoe industry in Südwestpfalz and how shoes are made. Nature trails and rock formations are thus travel interests alongside castles and industrial history.

For hiking and cycling tours, the Verbandsgemeinde’s trail network includes routes past historic sights, through forests and to scenic locations. The Zweibrücker Land leisure and adventure route runs on nearly level ground from the Schwarzbach Valley through Zweibrücken and Hornbach. A regional cycling tour offers views across France or the Sickinger Höhe.

Choose accommodation to suit your priorities

An apartment is described as having 92 square metres of living space and as renovated and newly furnished. One flat has a large balcony with rural views. Guests can store bicycles and motorcycles in the spacious entrance area of a barn. These details address different needs: living space, balcony views and somewhere to store two-wheeled vehicles.

Discover more destinations: Thaleischweiler-Fröschen, Eppenbrunn, Nothweiler, Busenberg, Dietrichingen, Erfweiler, Rodalben, Bobenthal.

Back to the wider travel overview: Südwestpfalz.