The Wißberg World Tour runs around the Wißberg, one of the highest peaks in Rheinhessen. The loop trail offers a magnificent panoramic view of the region’s vineyards and the surrounding area. Highlights along this tour include the Arena am Wißberg, the Hofgut Wißberg, the Seminar Pavilion, and the Gau-Bickelheim Cross Chapel. The certified hiking trail opened in May 2026; it is 9.9 kilometers long, and you should allow about 2 hours and 40 minutes to complete it.
Wißberg Hiking Tour: A Hike Through Vineyards and the Hills of Rheinhessen
I start the Wißberg Hiwweltour at the parking lot by the Gau-Bickelheim sports field and hike into the vineyards north of the town. The trail leads uphill toward Wißberg, one of the highest peaks in Rheinhessen, which is also called „Tafelberg“ because of its plateau. You’ll pass a drainage ditch and come to a „Wingertsheisje“ (vineyard hut); after that, the trail gets a bit steeper until you reach the rest area at the Fisher’s Cross with its wooden photo frame, where you can enjoy the first views of the Rheinhessen hills on this tour. An information board provides interesting facts about the nearby geotope „Landslides in the Mainz Basin.“ These facts pertain to the sandy clay marl, which is prone to instability.
Sprendlinger Arena and Via Vinea on the Wißberg
From the rest area, it's just a stone's throw to the Sprendlinger Arena on Via Vinea Themed Trail. The open-air stage is framed by five columns featuring artistically designed faces. The arena was built on the initiative of the Fritzsch, Geil, Klosheim, Rauschert, and Zahn wineries. Every June, they celebrate the Night of Indulgence, and there are also several events throughout the year centered on wine and culture. Near the arena is the Rundidum, the installation made of glass panels offers useful tips on the area’s attractions and highlights, which are engraved on the glass panels. There is also a lovely rest area here with seating and a wonderful view of the region.
The vineyard swing and the summit cross on the Wißberg
After studying the highlights of the area on the engraving, I continue my hike and head north to the Wingertsschaukel above Sprendlingen. Here, you can relax and swing on a hilltop with a view over the hills of Rheinhessen. Shortly after the swing, you’ll catch a glimpse of the Via Vinea shelter. It’s not right on the trail, but it’s worth making a short detour to visit it. From there, the trail leads through an idyllic stretch of forest and up past an orchard to the wooden cross atop the 270-meter-high Wissberg in the Rheinhessen Hills.
In the following section, the hiking trail runs along the northern side of the Golf Course along the way, offering beautiful views of the course and Sankt Johann time and again. The 18-hole championship course of the Golf Clubs in Rheinhessen With its generously sized fairways, the course offers golfers fantastic views. Hikers, however, should stay on the path because of flying golf balls. I watch the golfers play and hike to the „Tisch des Weines“ at the entrance to the golf course. It’s time for a quick drink break and a view of Sankt Johann and Wolfsheim, then I continue along the trail.
Hofgut Wißberg - The Vineyard Hotel
After the rest area, the hiking trail turns south and runs along the eastern side of the golf course to the next resting spot, the „Wine Table“ on the Wißberg. Fold-out information panels provide details about the Rheinhessen region, and here, too, the view—this time to the east—is simply breathtaking. In just a few minutes, you’ll reach the „Hofgut Wißberg – The Vineyard Hotel“, a beautiful boutique hotel in a prominent location high above Rheinhessen. Here, you can stop for a bite to eat at the bistro or at „Gramms Restaurant,“ and you can also stay overnight at the hotel if you’d like to spend more time in the region.
Near the hotel is the Wißberg rest area, which has benches and also offers a great view. The rest area isn’t located directly on the hiking trail, since the trail turns south right in front of the hotel and continues eastward to the Seminar Pavilion. It is located above Gau-Weinheim in the vineyards and is used, among other things, for events. The pavilion’s architecture is fascinating, featuring reinforced concrete and a wire mesh filled with stones from the region. With its natural stone elements, it blends seamlessly into the landscape, and the site offers a beautiful panoramic view of the region.
Gau-Bickelheim Chapel of the Cross in the Vineyards
From the seminar pavilion, I walk westward through the vineyards to the Gau-Bickelheim Chapel of the Cross. It stands surrounded by vineyards just outside the town, and its red-tiled roof can be seen from a distance. The chapel is a popular place of pilgrimage; the path leading up to it is lined with 14 Stations of the Cross. Built in 1755 in honor of the Holy Cross, „Oberschultheiß Johann Jakob Hees of Gau-Böckelheim“ donated half of his vineyard at the time to fund the construction of the chapel. The Single layer Incidentally, it is named after the church; various grape varieties grow on clay marl and limestone. The church was destroyed during the French Revolution and was demolished at the end of the 19th century due to the risk of collapse.
The current sandstone building was constructed between 1907 and 1910 and was later extensively renovated. The chapel is one of the region’s landmarks, particularly because of its unique location. During the summer months, the „WanderSommer“ takes place at the Kreuzkapelle, and when the weather is nice, from May through the end of September, local winemakers and community organizations serve Rheinhessen wines and hearty treats every Sunday between 11:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m. The chapel, with its seating area, is definitely worth a visit; for me, it’s a highlight of the Hiwweltour Wißberg.
Discover Gau-Weinheim: Sights and Places to Stop for a Bite to Eat
The final stretch leads from the chapel through the idyllic vineyards back to Gau-Bickelheim and along the railroad tracks to the parking lot at the sports field, the starting and ending point of the Hiwweltour Wißberg. After the hike, there are several places to stop for refreshments. These include the Organic Pig Library with a farm stand and the wine bar at the Schnabel Winery. The Winzerhof organic winery also features a guesthouse and RV parking spaces.
By the way, in the neighboring town of Gau-Weinheim, there is the The world's most leaning tower – the Gau-Weinheim bell tower. This square, historic structure from the 12th century has a tilt of 5.4277°, making it significantly more crooked than the famous Tower of Pisa. It was once part of a Romanesque fortified church that no longer stands. Its tilt is due to the nature of the soil. It is open to the public free of charge and is located on the northwestern edge of town on Obergasse. Right next to the tower, there is a Ice Cream Machine („Karoline's Ice Cream“).
My conclusion
The Wißberg Hiwweltour offers beautiful scenery and great variety. Spectacular viewpoints with magnificent panoramic views alternate with idyllic stretches through bountiful vineyards and short, shady sections. My personal highlights are the Arena am Wißberg, the Sprendlingen vineyard swing, the „Tisch des Weines“ (Wine Table) at Wißberg, the Hofgut Wißberg estate, the seminar pavilion, and the Gau-Bickelheim Cross Chapel.
Getting There and Tips
The Hiwweltour begins and ends at the parking lot at the Gau-Bickelheim sports field. Alternatively, you can also start the hike via well-marked trails from the surrounding towns of Sprendlingen, Sankt Johann, Wolfsheim, or Gau-Weinheim.
You can reach Gau-Bickelheim by train via the Gau-Bickelheim or Sprendlingen stations, or by bus via Gau-Bickelheim, Sprendlingen, or Sankt Johann. By car, you can reach Gau-Bickelheim via the A61 by taking the Gau-Bickelheim exit and driving to Gau-Bickelheim on the L420.
For the hike, we recommend wearing non-slip shoes, comfortable hiking clothes, bringing something to drink, and packing a snack in your backpack.
