2024-09-22 08:33:59
If you cycle through the Taunus, you need fitness or an e-bike, because you almost always taste the mountain air. How appropriate that a well-marked circuit has exactly this name: Taunusrunde Höhenluft. The name says it all: you have to climb a total of 680 meters in height, the highest point is 780 meters. It goes clockwise around the climatic health resort of Schmitten.
During the trip you approach two Taunus peaks that are popular with cyclists: the Großer Feldberg and the Kleiner Feldberg. But we will ignore it because on this trip we like to travel on cycling paths and forest paths, while we will have to take the road to these two peaks. But if you want to integrate the two mountain climbers into the tour (they are well marked) and it is appropriate, you can do so – but you will have to take a small path.
The regular round is enough for us because it has a lot to offer. Anyone who is surrounded by the Taunus not only has high advantages, but also always has amazing views. And sooner or later you come across Roman remains or reconstructed structures from the German Upper Limes. On the northern ridge of the Kleiner Feldberg, in the middle of the forest, the partially reconstructed Feldberg fortress awaits us. At 700 meters, the fortress, built around 150 AD, was once the highest military camp in the entire Upper Germanic-Raetian Limes and is one of the best archives in the entire Limes.
The approximately 200 soldiers stationed here were responsible for security and patrol duties at the former outer border of the Roman Empire. The application also includes a civilian decision for the family members of the soldiers. All of them need water, and that’s why the fort has not been built a kilometer further east, where Limes crosses the road, but at this point. The fountain of Weil gurgles in the spruce forest 200 meters above the acres.
The remains of the moat wall and the surrounding walls have been preserved. Some of the foundations of the buildings between the wall and the bath are also clearly visible. It’s worth leaving your bikes and exploring the complex on foot.
There is no food (anymore) on the route except around the start and end point in Schmitten. If you need a break for food in between, you should take a picnic with you – there are many nice places along the way. For example, there are picnic benches below the observation tower on the 662 meter high Pferdekopf. It is another highlight of the 36 km long journey. From the tower you have a wonderful panoramic view of the Taunus Heights in the area.
Directions
We started at the outdoor pool in Schmitten. Anyone arriving by car can park here free of charge. By public transport in Schmitten you go to the “Kirche” stop. From both starting points the route turns outside “Zum Feldberg”. Now it goes steadily uphill, first through the Arnoldshain area, then through the forest. We followed the blue bicycle sign with the inscription “Höhenluft”. After 5.5 kilometers we reach the Sandplacken pass at 669 meters. To the left we will go to the hotel-restaurant there, but we turn right to the road, soon after we turn right again into the forest. We cycled a little further uphill until we reached Feldberg Fort after a total of about ten kilometers. If you park your bike and visit the remains of the Roman military camp, you can also take a short trip to Weilquelle;
We continue to follow the forest path until we come out at the intersection with Hochtaunusstraße. Here we are at the Red Cross pass (688 meters). We continue through the forest until we see the “jag” on the left. The 640 meter high plateau made of slate is a popular training ground for mountaineers with numerous long routes.
A little more you leave the forest, to the right you have a beautiful view of the districts of Nieder- and Oberreifenberg and the ruins of the Reifenberg castle with their impressive residential tower. It is the tallest building in the Taunus.
We come to another road and the Kittelhütte can be seen on the left – a small shelter with a parking place for hikers. Many hiking trails start here. We continue through the forest past the area of Seelenberg. Many trees were cut here in ancient times. Small comfort: This always offers a beautiful view, including that of the Großer Feldberg.
After a little more than 16 kilometers we took a sharp right turn. We continue past the Akazienhof Icelandic horse stud farm near Seelenberg and through the woods to the Weißer Stein refuge, where several paths inters. From there we cycled to Pferdeskopf, where we turned left after a total of 21 kilometers. A small margin of between five and ten percent has to be won here, but it is worth it. From the 34 meter high observation tower you can see far across the country in all directions.
We return to the junction, continue to the left and go down again. We came to Treisberg, the smallest district of the district of Schmitten. The beautiful semi-detached house with small clock tower and cast fountain is the old school of the town and is a listed building.
We turn left and follow the signs to the village of Finsternthal with its beautiful center lined with half-timbered houses. Here, too, there is a typical Taunus fountain made of cast iron. In the town we turn right and circle above the local road. You should not be surprised if you are noticed by the impressive Bactrian camels standing near the road. This is not a disappointment, but the animals, and some llamas and alpacas, belong to a pet that offers tours.
We continue straight ahead and down until we reach the ruins of the former pilgrimage church “Lady of the Country Stone”. It shines in new glory after the renovation and design of the exterior area was completed in August this year. The impressive, 46 meter long church was built in the 15th century.
From there we turned right into the forest one last time before going down again and cycling comfortably over the last eight kilometers along the areas of Hunoldstal, Brombach and Dorfweil back to Schmitten.
Worth seeing
Feldberg Fort in Weilquelle, en route, accessible at any time. There are also several sculptures by artist Masayuki Koorida on the site, which were installed as part of the 2013 “Blickachsen” biennale.
Landstein church ruins, freely accessible. There are charging options for e-bikes. The choir room will only be open for events.
Directions
The journey begins in Schmitten im Taunus. Depending on the starting point, you can reach Taunus by car via roads 5, 661 and 3; Schmitten can be reached by city routes 3004 and 3025. The place is accessible by bus lines RMV 50, 60, 80 and 86, which also accept bicycles. From May 1st to October 27th, the Weiltal bus with a bike trailer runs on Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays. Train stations where buses to Schmitten start: Bad Homburg vor der Höhe, Königstein, Oberursel, Neu-Anspach and Weilburg.
Stay in
“Zum Feldbergblick”, Panoramaweg 2, 61389 Schmitten/Hunoldstal. Open every day Thursday and Friday to Sunday. Home style, local cuisine, home baked breads, home made meats and sausages.
Café and pastry shop Henrich, Taunusstraße 1, 61389 Schmitten/Arnoldshain. Highly praised selection of bread. Mondays, Thursdays to Saturdays 11am to 12:45pm
Data
Length: 36.3 km
Location: mainly unpaved roads, a third street
Height: 690 meters
Difficulty: medium
Internet
The route is saved as a GPX track at: www.faz.net/radler-routen
#Mountain #journey #nature #Roman #history