W13: Kirnberger Weg

6:40 h 361 hm 361 hm 23.0 km Moderate

Rothenburg ob der Tauber

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The W13 is Rothenburg’s longest circular hiking trail, designed as a day hike.

It takes us through the romantic Upper Tauber Valley to Gebsattel and on to Kirnberg. From there, the trail climbs up to the Frankenhöhe, where we meet the Wasserscheideweg. At the state highway, we descend to Neusitz and continue back to our starting point. The trail offers two alternative routes: a detour to the east with sweeping views across the Altmühl Plain all the way to Colmberg Castle, and a natural, quiet hillside path with magnificent panoramic views.

 

From the market square, we head south through Obere and Untere Schmiedgasse to Plönlein. Continuing through the Siebersturm, we reach the so-called Kappenzipfel. We follow Spitalgasse, past the Holy Spirit Hospital Church, to the imposing Spitalbastei (circa 1535). Our path leads us past it on the right, over the covered Wallgrabensteg bridge, and along the road ascending from the Tauber Valley, where the W13 hiking trail marker begins. We now follow the signs down the Medersteige into the romantic Tauber Valley. After passing the Gipsmühle, we cross the Tauber on the covered Schmelzmühlensteg bridge shortly after the Schandtauber confluence and follow the Taubertalweg to the left through the Schmelzmühle (1333). Immediately past the houses, a narrow path on the right leads up the slope to the Natursteig, which we follow until we reach State Road St2419. We cross the road (be careful!) and immediately afterward turn right onto a dirt road leading up to the Eckartshof. At the top, we reach a wayside cross with a bench for a short rest and a magnificent panoramic view of the Frankenhöhe. A small road takes us down to the village of Gebsattel, where we follow the signs. We pass the St. Laurentius Church and the Schwarzen Adler Inn, then cross the Tauber River on a pedestrian footbridge after 200 meters. Now we keep to the right on the Tauberweg and take the second street (An der Dorfmühle) to the left, heading uphill to the Gasthof zum Lamm on Schloßstraße. Here we turn right, cross the street after about 50 meters, and follow the signs onto a footpath that winds through gardens. At the end of the path, we turn right. The path now leads us past fish ponds, out of the village, and onto a paved dirt road. Here, we turn left and walk past the concert hall, through the soccer fields to a barn, after which we first turn right—and then left again after about 100 m. To our right, we see a hill with a cross at its highest point, known as the Kreuzlesberg. We now continue on to the highway, where we keep to the left. Once we reach State Road 2249, we follow it to the right through the highway underpass, then—after about 150 meters—turn onto the dirt road on the other side of the street (be careful!).

At the end of the path, a narrow trail on the right leads through the Schafhutung Kirnberg Nature Reserve (juniper heath) up to the Wolfsberg. We follow the signs to the connecting road to Kirnberg, which we take to the right down the hill toward the village; just before reaching the village, we turn left toward the church. Here, you have the option to continue straight ahead on the road into the village to stop for a bite to eat at the Gasthof zur Linde. We pass the 13th-century St. Mary and Michael Church and follow the path up to the forest, walking along its right side. After about 500 m, the W13 branches off to the right, toward Wildenhof, leading to the fish ponds. The trail leads through Wildenhof, continuing toward Frankenhöhe. At a large pear tree, we turn left onto a dirt road that leads into the forest. On the cross-trail, we keep to the right, then after 250 m turn left onto a path leading up to Frankenhöhe. This trail up the Wildenhofer Ranken is partly equipped with steps and was once used as a route to school and church. Once at the top of the hill, we soon come to the Wasserscheideweg (WSW) and follow the signs through the shady forest of the Frankenhöhe. After about 2 km, trails 13 and 13a split. W13 branches off to the left together with the WSW, and W13a continues straight ahead (see below). The trail runs along the top of the hillside and joins a forest road. The W13 and WSW signs guide us on to the Schloßberg. In the Middle Ages, a hilltop castle stood here; remnants of its ramparts and moat are still visible. The trail continues through a dense beech forest to a paved bike path along the state highway, where we rejoin the W13a. Now we turn left and head downhill through an avenue of fruit trees toward the village of Neusitz. At the fish pond, the main hiking trail turns left onto the paved path. To the right, along a meadow path beside the pond, the W13b branches off (see below). The signs lead us past several fish ponds, through the village to the Church of the Holy Cross, which was first mentioned as early as the 13th century. The stairs next to the church lead us back down into the village to the Neusitz Inn, where we can refuel for the final stretch of the trail. After this break, we leave the village and head toward the highway. We now follow Ansbacher Straße, cross the railroad tracks, walk along the old cemetery, and arrive at the Rödertor. The signage ends here, but our route continues into town—straight ahead through Rödergasse and Hafengasse to the market square.

Alternative W13a: View of the Upper Altmühl Plain all the way to Colmberg Castle 
At the point described above, we leave the Wasserscheideweg and follow the W13a signs straight ahead, out of the forest. Here, a panoramic view opens up to the east over the upper Altmühl plain. In the background rises the imposing Colmberg Castle, from which one could already overlook the headwaters of the Altmühl as far back as the Middle Ages. Continuing along the edge of the forest, we reach Aidenauer Straße, a paved but little-traveled road, on which we walk to the left until we reach the state highway, where we join the main trail W13.

Alternative W13b: Across the southern slope of the Lug into the countryside 
The trail takes us along a meadow path around the Neusitz fish ponds to the state highway. Here, on summer weekends, the Fischerheim invites you to take a break. We cross State Road 2250 (be careful!), walk straight ahead for about 150 m up the paved road toward Wachsenberg, and then turn left onto a hillside path. The easily navigable dirt path on the south slope of the Lug ins Land offers a beautiful view of Neusitz, Rothenburg, and far into the Hohenlohe region. We cross a dry grassland with scattered pine trees. After a cross path, we turn diagonally right onto a dirt path that climbs gently along a hedge. Shortly before Schweinsdorfer Straße, the path branches off to the right toward Schafhof, then immediately turns left toward the highway underpass. Here we come across several long-distance hiking trails and the W11, whose signage leads us directly to Rothenburg—and from there, via the Galgentor, straight to the market square. 
 

  • Ascent: 361 hm

  • Descent: 361 hm

  • Length of the tour: 23.0 km

  • Highest point: 508 m

  • Difference: 153 hm

  • Lowest point: 355 m

Difficulty

Moderate

Panoramic view

Moderate

Seasonal suitability

suitable weather dependent not suitable unknown

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  • JUL

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Features trail

Circular route

Rest point

Open

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