Lichtenberg castle - Rathsweiler - Veldenz-Wanderweg - Stage 1 (Leading-Quality-Trail - Best of Europe)

And from one of the most imposing buildings of Veldenzer -Burg Lichtenberg – from where the trail also starts at an impressive gateway leading the way up to the first climb.

Along a   narrow path, it goes along the top of the hillside towards the east. Above the village of Ruthweiler a wide view opens up in front of you, before the route descends to the former railway line which you now share with the cyclists of the Fritz-Wunderlich bike trail, named after the famous tenor who was born in Kusel, until you reach Blaubach.

Having reached the village of   Diedelkopf, the path branches off to Blaubach – those football fans amongst you will know this name for sure since this is where the national football player, Miroslav Klose, grew up and learnt to play football with the Spielvereinigung Blaubach-Diedelkopf.

The Veldenz trail leads now on past lush meadows up to the Ödesberg.

Here you will enjoy fantastic panoramic views over the smallest county town in Germany – Kusel - and back to Burg Lichtenberg.

The path runs through an open landscape, past corn and grain fields, to the village of   Blaubach. Here the trail leads down into a dense forest area, the so-called Gailbach. Here it is pleasantly cool on hot days and the murmur of the brook accompanies us on our way.

But you would not be in Palatine Uplands if the trail would not lead up again. From the Gailbach past Bistersberg and Hilgert, where we are greeted by windmills. Partly in the forest and also on its outskirts, we walk past   the Patersbacher   Höhe until we reach Erdesbach.

Here we can stop for a rest   or a refreshment in the village cafe, before we start   the steepest part of this stage, the Häßelweg. The effort is worth it, since after crossing the minor road, we now wander   through the conservation area   "Wartekopf", which is characterized by a mixture of dry meadows and beech tree forests. From time to time one can see a herd of sheep eating the grass in the meadows as well as enjoying the breathtaking views over the Glantal up to the Potzberg and Konigsberg, when the weather is good.

On small paths, with no great differences in altitude and therefore very relaxing, we walk   on to Rathsweiler , the goal of our first stage.

Using the marked hiking trail, we descend into the Glantal.

It is also worth shortening the stage to the village of Ulmet. Using the signposted trail we reach the Waldhotel Felschbachhof and also the cosy country inn "Zum Steinernen man".