Eintauchen in den Wald

The Swabian-Franconian Forest Nature Park covers around 900 square kilometers. The forest area around Unterheimbach (municipality of Bretzfeld) is the largest contiguous area. When nature park guide Petra Kuch immerses herself in this forest area, she begins with a little meditation: "We close our eyes, leave outside what is bothering us in everyday life, hang our worries on a tree, open our ears and listen to the sounds around us, smell and breathe in the scents."

So pleasantly attuned, we now set off from Unterheimbach into the green dome and a little way along the Bernbach. There were glassworks in this forest as far as Neuhütten in the 16th century and coal piles smoked. Over 20 glassworks are known in the nature park area. The name Neuhütten, for example, indicates that there was a glassworks there. Aschhofenhütte (on this hiking trail) is also a reminder of this time of charcoal burners. The hiking trail climbs from 258 m in Unterheimbach to 525 m at the Steinknickle viewing tower in Neuhütten. From up there, you can see far over Hohenlohe and the nature park. Then it's on to Maienfels (municipality of Wüstenrot), the former castle town above the Brettachtal valley. The once strong castle was built around 1300 and was "for a long time a stronghold for the nobility of the surrounding area in their feuds with the imperial cities, but also during raids", according to the chronicle. In 1441, the castle was besieged, stormed and pretty much destroyed. Today, the castle and land belong to the von Gemmingen family. Below the castle wall is the Protestant church, built as a castle chapel. An old footpath leads down to the village of Brettach in the Brettach Valley. The village is the highest (287 m) and most southerly in the municipality of Bretzfeld. Ascending through peaceful forests, you reach the remains of the Upper German-Raetian Limes (World Heritage Site) on the plateau near Gleichen. The former Roman frontier is one of the most fascinating archaeological monuments in Germany. A special feature is the hexagonal watchtower near Gleichen. Signs point the way there. The view from Buchhorn of the Brettach Valley, Maienfels Castle and the wine village of Geddelsbach is fascinatingly beautiful. Forest and vineyards characterize this trail to Unterheimbach, the starting point of this varied hike.