The first stage of the Rhine Terraces Trail from Worms to Osthofen takes us through various communities along the Rhine plain. We start in the legendary Nibelungen city of Worms with its stately cathedral and great history, where Luther once stood in front of the Reichstag, past Herrnsheim Castle with its dreamy castle garden. Now it's uphill: the RheinTerrassenWeg (RTW) becomes a panoramic hike at Abenheim and offers views over the Rhine-Hessian sea of vines and the Rhine plain.
Through the vineyards we finally reach the Wine and sparkling wine town Osthofen.
The picturesque towers and miniature castles are unique in Rheinhessen and the culinary stops in Osthofen are not for the faint-hearted. Come with us to the Wonnegau, you will be surprised!
Marvel at miniature castles and enjoy the view
They can be found all around the wine-growing community, the small vineyard cottages or even miniature castles, as they are affectionately called by the people of Osthofen. The "white houses" is the first thing in sight. The route signs lead us along a small access path to the edge of the Rhine terrace and there it is waiting for us: the tower-like plaster building with a barrel vault dates back to the second half of the 19th century and its four corner pillars are reminiscent of a kind of "battlement". Just a few meters away, the Table of wine and in the north, the mountain church of Osthofen can already be glimpsed between the trees. To the east, the view opens up across the Rhine to the Odenwald and to the south we can see the steeples of Worms Cathedral and the Church of the Holy Trinity. Far-reaching views with good visibility, a dream for a rest.
Above the Rhine terrace, the path winds its way through the vineyards, relaxed pleasure hiking with far-reaching views is the motto here. Of course, I don't want to miss out on marveling at nature on my exploratory tours: On the loess walls along the paths, the lizards are just waiting to be discovered by me. And there it is: The green lizard! It likes the warm vineyard slopes and enjoys sunbathing on the warm embankment. The males are particularly eye-catching during the mating season, when their throats glow emerald or turquoise. According to the Red List, its occurrence is classified as "critically endangered". It can be spotted on our route, making it a real jewel in the vineyard.
The paths are framed by the blossoming diversity that brings forth new colors every season. The intense purple thistle is a popular destination for bees, bumblebees and butterflies. Color in nature simply puts you in a good hiking mood.
Soon we have discovered a resting place under a shady walnut tree and just a few meters further on a photo point with a view awaits us!
The Flak house may not seem particularly imposing, but the viewing platform offers a wonderful panoramic view and provides a view of almost all the towers around Osthofen: the Blümel-Häuschen, the Leckzapfen, the top of the mountain church - the rest is hidden in the trees - and the Rote Häuschen. The signage on the handrail points to the towers in Osthofen and Worms and the Melibokus, the striking mountain in the Odenwald. The flak house used to serve as a bunker for the Osthofen flak observation post, then as a classic Wingertsheisje and now it is a popular photo hotspot.
The RheinTerrassenWeg runs parallel to the "Luther Way 1521" and leads us directly to the Goldberg plateau. At the entrance to the cemetery, pilgrims can collect a stamp for the route they have successfully completed. The Luther Trail 1521 runs 44 km through Rheinhessen and Luther once knew how to enjoy the magnificent view. The pilgrimage route covers a total of 530 km through 7 federal states in the footsteps of the reformer. The start/end point is at the Magnus Church in Worms.
To marvel at the second "castle", we take a short detour back south to the church and arrive at the "Little red houses". The hexagonal tower with battlements, built around 1900 in neo-Gothic style, stands stately on a hill. The basement used to serve as a shelter. The red bricks give the miniature castle its name. In 2000, the tower was renovated by the Wine Brotherhood Rheinhessen to the most beautiful vineyard cottages in Rheinhessen elected and only recently by the Weinring Osthofen e.V. renovated. An attractive photo point where you can also take a photo at a Table of wine can enjoy a leisurely meal.
Back on the main path, we reach the mountain church, which seems to watch over Osthofen, via the park-like cemetery. Hidden among the old trees, the Romanesque bell tower, which once belonged to a fortification, stands out. We follow the signs along the mountain church through enchanted paths and enjoy the view over Osthofen. The Osthofen mountain church is considered to be the largest vineyard cottage in the small town, as it offered protection from many an enemy and shelter from attacks of all kinds. But read the whole story at the sign along the cemetery wall in the direction of the church gate.
Need a little or a lot of refreshment?
What would a hike be without a refreshment stop? For the hungry and thirsty hiker, I have tested a few refreshment stops:
Excellent ice cream and frozen yogurt can be enjoyed at Ice cream Nonno enjoy. Very tasty and a welcome refreshment after our hike. On the square opposite, there are play areas for children and comfortable benches for tired hikers, or we can enjoy the treat inside the ice cream parlor.
____________________________________________________________________
At Grittmann Winery awaits us on selected dates from May to September. "Wednesday bouquet economy" from 5 pm.
The "greetings from the kitchen and the cellar" and the familiar Rhine-Hessian hospitality of the Grittmanns frame the cozy, warm summer evening. The excellent food is a real treat - you simply have to be a guest here! Those arriving by motorhome can enjoy the tranquillity of the vineyards and, by prior arrangement, take part in a motorhome dinner or a sundown or munkel wine tasting.
____________________________________________________________________
Those who love Mediterranean cuisine will feel particularly at home in the ambience of the Swans in Osthofen well. In the "MonaLiza" restaurant of the country hotel, Chef de Cuisine Michael Piotrowski serves his guests culinary and home-style delicacies and regional wine. When the weather is nice, a shady spot in the courtyard under the old plane trees is simply a dream and the perfect reward for a long day of hiking. The innovative owners are bubbling over with new ideas, a glance at the event calendar will arouse your curiosity! Kitchen parties, Little Chef's - cooking with children, holiday brunch, fine brandy tasting, and much more can be found on the program. The country hotel has 30 modern rooms and offers space for 59 guests. Particularly interesting for cyclists and hikers is the bookable luggage transport. This means you can enjoy your day with light luggage and a packed lunch can be booked as an option.
____________________________________________________________________
And for those with a sweet tooth, an insider tip on selected Saturdays and Sundays in the summer months: The Winery café in the Winery Wechsler Erben. Jutta Ahl treats visitors to homemade cakes and coffee under the old chestnut tree in the romantic courtyard. Of course, the wine or a refreshing spritzer is not to be missed. A special highlight here is the "Walking Wine Dinner" with Jutta. Current dates can be found on the website.
____________________________________________________________________
Thought-provoking trip into the past
Osthofen is also irrevocably linked to the Osthofen Concentration Camp Memorial connected. Even if you like to enjoy happy and wine-soaked thoughts in the present, you should definitely pause here and visit the Osthofen concentration camp memorial in the former paper factory. The Osthofen concentration camp was established in these buildings shortly after the NSDAP came to power, where opponents of the Nazi regime, above all members of the KPD, the SPD and trade unionists, but also members of the Center, Jews, Jehovah's Witnesses, Sinti and others were imprisoned from spring 1933 to summer 1934. The permanent exhibition "National Socialism in Rhineland-Palatinate" is at the heart of the memorial. "Commemoration and remembrance" are the aims of the work of the State Center for Political Education in the "Nazi Documentation Center at the Osthofen Concentration Camp Memorial.
Quote from the website: "A visit here replaces ten hours of history lessons" was the statement of one teacher after a visit to the Osthofen Concentration Camp Memorial with his year 10 class.
In a very impressive and vivid way, you are immersed in a time that was characterized by much suffering and oppression. Whether on a guided tour or with the audio guide, we learn about the fates of Osthofen's fellow citizens and the political background. There are individual offers for groups and school classes, which can be viewed in detail on the website. Special exhibitions complement the impressively presented and interactive exhibition.
The highlight is right at the top
Before we leave Osthofen on the RheinTerrassenWeg in the direction of Bechtheim, it rises majestically from the vineyards on a hill: the most impressive miniature castle in the small town - the "Leak plug". Built in 1891 in neo-Gothic style, it bears a striking resemblance to the fairytale castle of Lichtenstein in Württemberg. The building was extensively renovated in 2009 and was awarded the title of "Most Beautiful Vineyard Cottage in Rheinhessen" in 2011.
According to legend, the wines from this terroir were already so excellent in the Middle Ages that the cellar master would have licked the spigot of the wine barrel so that not a drop would be lost... 😉. Even today, excellent wine is still produced here from the Kratz Winery to enjoy. Whether at the regular wine tapping at the Leckzapfen, the "wine horizon" or the annual courtyard festival "Leckzapfen live experience" - the delicious wine tastes particularly good with a view of the setting sun. In keeping with tradition, the winery festival always takes place on the last weekend of the Backfischfest, and the fireworks display in Worms is a great place to watch from the hill.
Dates at the Leckzapfen can be found on the winery's website.
To round off the tour, we take a short detour to visit the Blümel cottage, which was built at the end of the 19th century. The little tower built in the Norman-Moorish style is unique in the region. Here too, the Osthofen Wine Ring e.V. has undertaken the most recent renovation.
My conclusion:
The stage on the RheinTerrassenWeg to Osthofen is an easy hike with panoramic rest stops. Natural gems can be discovered and marveled at with a little patience. In the summer months, there are plenty of places to stop for refreshments with excellent cuisine. Ice cream is always a good idea for a short break - and very tasty too! Don't forget your cell phone or photo - souvenir photos are particularly worthwhile at the picturesque little towers. As Osthofen is connected to the railroad line, the route can be walked for as long as you like. You can find useful information on the website. Have fun hiking!
