The best traffic-free bike rides around Ruppertsweiler

There was probably a manor house here a long time ago.

Unfortunately, the Biosphärenhaus and the Baumwipfelpfad were closed indefinitely in October 2023 for safety reasons. It is uncertain whether it will ever resume operation.

Cool rock formation in the Dahner Felsenland.

From March 9th, 2026, the bridge will be closed due to construction work 🚧. Excavators ⛓️🪏 are currently working at the lower end. For the time being, you must take the detour ↩️ through the underpass.

A memorial stone erected on the occasion of the 90th birthday of Prince Regent Luitpold of Bavaria. Next to the memorial stone stands an oak tree planted on that day. From here, a path leads to the Weißenberg hill where the Luitpold Tower stands. Prince Regent Luitpold of Bavaria was born on March 12, 1821, the fifth child of King Ludwig I of Bavaria. Before assuming power on June 9, 1886, he rose through the ranks of the army to become Inspector General. During his twenty-five-year reign, the Kingdom of Bavaria experienced a golden age. The Palatinate belonged to Bavaria from 1816 to 1949. In honor of the Prince Regent, streets, theaters, parks, schools, observation towers, and even cakes were named after him. For example, Prinzregentenstraße, Prinzenweg (see Rittersteine No. 41), Prinzregententheater, Luitpoldpark, Luitpoldturm and the Prinzregententorte. He died on December 12, 1912.

The Hochstein remains one of the most impressive rock formations in the Palatinate, especially since it is less obscured by forest than others. From the top, there is a fantastic view (for climbers).

Knight's Stone "Prince Regent Luitpold, 90 Years Old, March 12, 1911" near Hermersbergerhof Knight's Stone No. 70 The Knight's Stone "Prince Regent Luitpold, 90 Years Old, March 12, 1911" (Knight's Stone No. 70) is located on the forest road between Hermersbergerhof and Weißenberg. The PWV markings "Blue-White Line," "Blue Cross," and "Blue-Red Line" lead past the Knight's Stone. "Prince Regent Luitpold, 12 March 1911, 90 Years Old" is a Knight's Stone from the category "Honors of Personalities." Knight's Stones in this category are intended to honor individuals who have rendered outstanding services to the Palatinate or the Palatinate Forest (according to Eitelmann 2005). The Knight's Stone was erected in honor of the 90th birthday of Prince Regent Luitpold Karl Joseph Wilhelm of Bavaria on March 12, 1911 (1821-1912). An oak tree was planted next to the Knight's Stone on the same day. Even as a young man, Prince Regent Luitpold served as a soldier in the army and later in all ranks of the service, up to Inspector General. He witnessed the consecration ceremony in 1871, when King Wilhelm of Prussia was awarded the imperial title of the new German Empire. In 1886, his nephew, King Ludwig II, was deposed from his office as King of Bavaria. When he drowned in Lake Starnberg a few days later, Prince Regent Luitpold assumed his office at the age of 65 (Eitelmann 2005, pp. 65/66). "Formally, Ludwig's brother Otto was proclaimed King of Bavaria, but since he was mentally ill and thus incapable of governing, Luitpold took over the office." (hdgb.eu, October 20, 2020). At the beginning of Luitpold's reign, he was suspected of being responsible for his nephew's death, which is why he was initially unpopular with the people. Until his death, he brought Bavaria years of peace through his political restraint, modesty, efficiency, and popular appeal. "With the dutiful "exercise" of his representative role, with With his popular appeal and friendliness, the Prince Regent quickly won over the population..." (hdgb.eu, October 20, 2020). The Ritterstein is an upright, almost rectangular sandstone boulder. It bears the inscription: PRINZREGENT / LUITPOLD / 12. MARCH 1911 / 90 YEARS OLD. At the bottom right is the abbreviation P. W. V. for Pfälzerwald-Verein (Palatinate Forest Association). Source: https://www.kuladig.de/Objektansicht/KLD-279008

The Dreiherrenstein (Knight's Stone No. 57), located in a saddle south of the Weißenberg towards Hermersbergerhof, is a historical border marker. It is somewhat hidden in the forest near County Road 56 and a hiking trail marked with a "blue cross." It is a flat boulder that documents the border situation in 1773 between the converging estates of the Wittelsbach Dukes of Palatinate-Zweibrücken, the Leiningen Counts (Leiningen-Hardenburg-Dagsburg line), and the Gräfenstein Lordship, which belonged to the Margraviate of Baden. For this purpose, not only the coats of arms of these estates but also the boundaries of the historical forest districts were carved into the surface of the rock. The Baden coat of arms with the letters "MB" (Margraviate of Baden), as well as the coat of arms of Palatinate-Zweibrücken with its diamond structure and the suffix "PZ" (Palatinate-Zweibrücken), are still clearly visible. The letters "KW" (Royal Forest) were added after 1831 during the Bavarian period of the Palatinate and served to mark the Bavarian state forest. Furthermore, during the development of the rock into the Ritterstein (Knight's Stone) by the Palatinate Forest Association, the inscription "Dreiherrenstein" (Three Gentlemen's Stone) and the abbreviation "PWV" were engraved on its front—as is customary in such cases. Source: https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dreiherrenstein_(Frankenweide)