recommended route
01. Section A: Hildegard of Bingen Pilgrimage Trail stage: Idar-Oberstein - Fischbach/Nahe
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Felsenkirche Idar-Oberstein und Schloss ObersteinPhoto: P. Bender, Naheland-Touristik GmbH
We recommend this stage to all pilgrimage hikers who are looking for an easy introduction to the Pilgrimage Trail.
From Fischbach it is about 2.5 additional kilometres to Fischbach/Weierbach railway station, from where there are regular regional train connections to Idar-Oberstein/Saarbrücken or Bad Kreuznach/Mainz/Frankfurt.
Hildegard of Bingen Pilgrimage Trail
In her fourth book of her Physica, she describes the effects of 26 (precious) stones. On this first stage, the Hildegard Way follows the Saar-Hunsrück Trail, which at times runs in the same direction, to the medieval town of Herrstein. After the legendary rock church and the spectacular rock formations at the beginning, the nature trail offers beautiful quiet stream valleys, old forests and a magnificent view when crossing the heights.
Hildegard of Bingen, abbess, poet, theologian, naturalist and healer lived in what is now the Nahe holiday region throughout her life.
Brief résumé of St. Hildegard of Bingen
1098: Birth Hildegard of Bingen, presumably in Niederhosenbach near Herrstein
1112: enters the Disibodenberg monastery near Bad Sobernheim, together with Jutta of Sponheim
1136: Hildegard of Bingen becomes, after the death of Jutta of Sponheim, the second Magistra in the Disibodenberg monastery
around 1150: founds her own female monastery in Bingen am Rhein
from 1150: Hildegard writes her visionary medical & musical works. She travels along the Rhine, Moselle, Main and Neckar and preaches in public places.
1165: Foundation of a second female convent in Eibingen, today’s pilgrimage church of St. Hildegard Rüdesheim-Eibingen
17 September 1179: Hildegard of Bingen dies in Bingen am Rhein
10 May 2012: Canonisation of Hildegard of Bingen by Pope Benedict XVI
7 October 2012: Elevation to Doctor of the Church
Further information on Hildegard of Bingen can be found here!
Author’s recommendation
Track types
Show elevation profileRest stops
Alte Kanzlei - Das SpießbratenhausRestaurant "Zum alten Goten"
Aral Tankstelle
Tips and hints
Naheland-Touristik GmbHBahnhofstraße 37, D-55606 Kirn
Telefon: +49 (0) 6752/137610
Fax: +49 (0) 6752/137620
Mail info@naheland.net
Local Adress:
Tourist Informations in the EdelSteinland:
Herrstein office
Brühlstr. 16, 55756 Herrstein
Fon +49 6785 - 791400
Fax +49 6785 - 7981400
Mail info@edelsteinland.de
Idar-Oberstein office
Hauptstr. 419, 55743 Idar-Oberstein
Fon +49 6781 - 64871
Fax +49 6781 - 64878
Mail info@edelsteinland.de
Start
Destination
Turn-by-turn directions
From here, after visiting one of the numerous cafés and restaurants or the Idar-Oberstein Museum, we can first reach and visit the unique Felsenkirche (rock church) via a steep footpath that is designated as an access route. After a few hairpin bends and through dense forest, we reach Oberstein Castle and Bosselstein Castle high above the old town of Oberstein. The Hildegard Path follows parallel to the Nahe-Felsen-Trail dream loop, please pay attention to the markings!
ATTENTION DIVERSION: Due to rock protection work above the rock church, the path along the rock church is closed until further notice! A diversion is signposted. The diversion runs through the pedestrian zone towards ‘Platz auf der Idar’ and from there up Schlossstraße and Felsenkirchstraße towards Schloss Oberstein.
Our effort of the ascent is rewarded with a fantastic view of the city centre and the wooded heights of the “Prussian Mountains”. At the “castle pond”, only a few hundred metres away, a barbecue hut and several benches and tables invite us to take a short or longer break. From here, we take the northern route for the continuation of the circular walk, as it again runs through the dense forest without any steeper sections. Passing stream valleys, some of which are deep, the trail leads us to a viewpoint with a view of the Nahe Valley and the districts of Nahbollenbach and Weierbach.
From here, the trail follows the Saar-Hunsrück Trail slightly downhill through forests and meadows to Fischbachtal, the end point of the stage.
Note
Public transport
Public-transport-friendly
By train to Idar-Oberstein. The town is located on the Mainz - Saarbrücken line and is easily accessible by regional express and regional train (vlexx). From the train station via the Nahe-Center and the main street (pedestrian zone) to the German Mineral Museum it is about 850 metres on foot (approx. 10 minutes)All timetables can be found in the RNN timetable information at www.rnn.info.
Getting there
Exit A61 at Bad Kreuznach, head towards Idar-Oberstein, take the B41 to Idar-ObersteinExit A62 at Birkenfeld, head towards Idar-Oberstein, take the B41 to Idar-Oberstein
Parking
Idar-Oberstein railway station and the car parks/multi-storeys in the Oberstein district (signposted locally).Coordinates
Book recommendation by the author
Author’s map recommendations
Book recommendations for this region:
Recommended maps for this region:
Equipment
Hiking footwear recommended!Our tips for carefree hiking fun:
Hiking is the perfect sport. With the right clothes and shoes, it's twice as much fun. Functional clothing, poles and breathable backpacks are good choices when hiking. But good footwear is indispensable. Sturdy jogging or leisure shoes are at best only suitable for short distances on flat paths. For longer walks, we recommend sturdy hiking boots with non-slip soles. Also remember to take sunscreen and a drink. A litre of water is best.
Related Offers
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