Trail Name: Circuit Viticole Transfrontalier (French) / Grenzuberschreitender Rundweg durch die Weinberge (German)
Trail Type: Short distance circuit; almost exclusively paved, well maintained, extremely well marked.
Length: total: 7 kilometers/ 4.3 miles
Convenient to: Karlsruhe and Landau, Germany
Marking: Red circle on white rectangular background
Trail Description:
A short circuit, ideal for families, traversing back and forth across the French-German border between Schweigen and Wissembourg; Passing through history and vineyards, as well as by German wineries and French cafes, this easy trail offers a lot, including unforgettable views of the Rhine River valley.
Trailhead:
Official: Wissembourg – Parking lot on Rue de la Poudriere
Alternates: Anywhere along the circuit, but especially at Schweigen-Rechtenbach.
Parking Possibilities:
Wissembourg:
Large lot: Rue de la Poudriere
Large lot: Rue du Tribunal
Schweigen: Large lots north and south of the Weintor on Weinstr/B38
Public Transportation Options:
Bus: Bus 543 runs several times a day between Schweigen-Rechtenbach and Wissembourg
Rail: The German Deutsche Bahn service direct from Karlsruhe, and the French SCNF service from Strasbourg, both connect Wissembourg (Weissenburg, in German) with other main cities and towns in the Rhine River valley.
Suggested Stages: Not Applicable
Trail Itinerary-Reference Points: (clockwise)
Wissembourg: (to join the trail from Rue de la Poudriere parking, follow the trail along the walls of the old town just north of the parking lot, until it joins Rue Otfried at Rue du Chapitre)-Quai du 24 Novembre-Faubourg de Bitche-Rue de la Walck, along the Lauter River, left and cross Route de Weiler/D334, take right up steep hill, follow dirt path through woods, into Sonnenberg vineyards along treeline, past a couple of benches, past the Chateau de Saint Paul; Schweigen: past hut with benches and tables (private), Bergstrasse-Laengelsstr, (Weintor), Weinstrasse-K28-Hauptstr, straight into vineyards; Wissembourg: Rue Robert Schumann-Rue des Acacias-Rue Otfried.
Representative Trail Photo:
Restrooms:
At or near all parking lots listed above
Attractions on or near Trail:
Wissembourg: A town with a history, and many fascinating, picturesque quiet corners. Parks and gardens, shopping, to include bakeries, patisseries, and a cheese store, with several eateries. Also:
Church of Saints Peter and Paul, part of the Abbey founded here in the 600s by Merovingian kings, who initiated and controlled many of the current vineyard sites for miles north and south of this small town.
Town walls, with lookout points, and towers; about half their circumference may be walked (either along or just outside).
Schweigen: Weintor, wine education path (but only in German), and several places to eat and drink.
Tasting along the Trail:
Near Wissembourg: Caves de Cleebourg (about 3 miles southwest of Wissembourg in Cleebourg)
In Schweigen: Deutsche Weintor wine cooperative shop, as well as several independent vintners in town!
Alternative Options: Many options on both sides of the border exist, but the wine-themed ones include:
Walking: A shorter walk is the Weinlehrpfad, a wine education circuit, starting at the Weintor in Schweigen.
Hiking: The Deutsche Weinstrasse Wanderweg (here); And the Pfaelzer Weinsteig, a more muscular hike of 172 kilometers of vineyard and mountain climbs, from Schweigen-Rechtenbach north to Bockenheim
Running: This entire trail is suitable for running
Biking: The long-distance Deutsche Weinstrasse Bike Trail starts at the Weintor in Schweigen
Car: The Deutsche Weinstrasse car tour route
Additional Information:
Regional: http://www.bad-bergzaberner-land.de/die-region.html and http://www.ot-wissembourg.fr/
Trail (segment) specific: http://www.pamina-region.info/wandern_randonnee.php
Comments:
This trail is quite easy, and can be accessible with baby carriages – IF you avoid one trail section. Follow the path detailed above. At Route de Weiler/D334, turn right and cross the street, continue to just past the hospital, and follow Rue du Chateau (Saint Paul). Continue straight on a hard-packed path where it turns right, and continue straight on this road. At the T-intersection just past the Chateau de Saint Paul, turn uphill (left); at the next T-intersection, turn right (away from the chateau), then take your first left up the hill, to follow the red circle signs (heading right) into Schweigen. This avoids a steep, narrow, dirt path, with risers that takes you from Wissembourg to the vineyards.