W8: Postbotenweg

4:10 h 289 hm 296 hm 13.5 km Moderate

Rothenburg ob der Tauber

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Part of this route was once used by mail carriers to deliver letters and packages from Rothenburg to Vorbach and Dürrenhof on foot or by bicycle. 

 

Part of this trail was once used by mail carriers to deliver letters on foot from Rothenburg to Vorbach and Dürrenhof. It then leads along the Tauber Valley Forest to the picturesque Hohbach Valley, which we hike through in its entirety all the way to the Tauber River. The return route takes us through the Tauber Valley and back up through Detwang to the town. The alternative route W8a (Brunnenholz–Detwang) shortens the hike by 6.5 km.

 

The trail starts at the market square and leads slightly downhill through Herrngasse down to the castle gate and castle gardens. Immediately after the gate, with its gatekeeper’s cottage, we turn right and leave the castle gardens through the north exit. We hike below the city wall through the so-called Neue Burg to the Kurze Steige. From here, there are repeated stunning views of the Tauber Valley below us and the former imperial village of Detwang. Turning left down the Kurze Steige into the Tauber Valley, past the Bronnenmühle mill and the “Unter den Linden” meadow restaurant, the trail leads us over the Barbarossa Bridge, which features a statue of Emperor Barbarossa. Here, we follow Taubertalstraße to the left for a short distance until we reach the turnoff for Vorbach. At the edge of the forest, we leave Vorbachstraße to turn left onto a winding path leading to the Hangweg. We follow the shaded path, cross a deep ravine (known as the “Klinge”), and, after walking through a meadow orchard, rejoin the road to Vorbach after 1.2 km. The route continues slightly uphill toward Vorbach. In the village, immediately after the bridge, we turn right onto the steep Kühbuckweg, heading toward the Dürrenhof. We walk through the Dürrenhof out onto the Hohenlohe Plain, passing between two abandoned quarries to the Reutsächer Steige (St 1020). Before reaching the state highway, we turn right onto a dirt road running parallel to the highway. After about 200 m, we turn left, cross the state highway (caution!), and walk along the field path on the opposite side to Brunnenholz. Here, Alternative Route 8a branches off to the right, leading directly down to Detwang (see below). The main trail W8 continues straight ahead on the dirt road to the left along the Brunnenholz, passing between the edge of the forest and the fields. Immediately after the Brunnenholz, we cross the state border into Baden-Württemberg. After 3.5 km, we reach a paved side road. We keep to the right twice in quick succession and come to a hiker’s parking lot, the starting point for the unspoiled Hohbach Valley. We follow the dirt road through the picturesque valley, down to the Hohbachschlösschen (18th century) on the Tauber River. Our path joins the paved Tauber Valley Bike Trail, onto which we turn right. Immediately before the Tauber Bridge, past the wastewater treatment plant, we follow the dirt path to the right, walk along the Tauber River, cross the river at the campground, and keep to the right on the bike trail toward Detwang. On the way to Detwang’s market square, we first pass a tower-like structure from the former 15th-century castle of the Lords of Nortenberg. Set back a bit further is the village mill, followed by the Romanesque Church of St. Peter and Paul with its famous Riemenschneider altar. The W8 hiking trail now leads uphill to the Lange Steige. Along the way, we cross Creglinger Straße twice (caution!). Once at the top, we arrive at the Klingentor bastion with the fortified church of St. Wolfgang, the Shepherd’s Dance Museum, and the casemates. We now walk through Klingengasse toward St. James’ Church, pass underneath it, and come to the St. James Pilgrimage Monument on the left. Several St. James’ Ways converge in Rothenburg and, from here, branch off again in the direction of Santiago de Compostela. Now it’s not far to our destination and starting point—walking past St. James’ Church, then turning right across the Grüner Markt, we arrive at the Marktplatz slightly to the left.

 

Alternative W8a: This shortcut takes us to the right along the edge of the forest to the so-called “Angerereck,” which features a rest area. From here, you’ll enjoy the most beautiful view of the medieval town on our hike. We continue hiking along the edge of the forest, past a small bunker, then turn left and descend into an abandoned quarry with sparse deciduous woodland. Postmen and churchgoers on their way to Detwang also used to travel along this path. The dirt road now turns into a steep path, interrupted by stone steps leading down into the Tauber Valley via the Detwang “Himmelsleiter” (180 steps). This path was also used as a route to school and church from Vorbach and Reutsachsen to Detwang. We cross the so-called “Turnierwiese,” then the old stone bridge (1603), and arrive in Detwang. At the market square, we rejoin the main hiking trail W8, which takes us up into town.

  • Ascent: 289 hm

  • Descent: 296 hm

  • Length of the tour: 13.5 km

  • Highest point: 444 m

  • Difference: 119 hm

  • Lowest point: 325 m

Difficulty

Moderate

Panoramic view

Moderate

Seasonal suitability

suitable weather dependent not suitable unknown

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