5 reasons to go hiking in Rheinhessen

1. varied hiking trails for every taste

When I ask my friends and acquaintances what our next hike in Rheinhessen should look like, the answers are very different. From sporty ambitious to "please not too strenuous" everything is there. Personally, I'm more attracted to longer stages of 20 km or more with a few more meters of altitude, but for newcomers to hiking I also like to focus on stopping for a bite to eat and enjoying the wine :-). Fortunately, Rheinhessen has both to offer.

Here are a few tips:
For those who like it more ambitious and also tolerate a few meters of altitude, the Hiwweltouren ideal. These nine certified circular hiking trails take you through the most beautiful corners of the wine region, close to nature. My absolute favorites.

For hiking beginners and those who prefer to focus on culture and wine enjoyment, I recommend the RheinTerrassenWeg. The 75 km long hiking trail can be divided into stages and easily traveled by train. In addition, you will pass great sights such as the Katharinenkirche and touch many beautiful wine villages.

A real insider tip for those who want the best of both is the Zellertalweg in the very south of the region between Monsheim and Marnheim. The hiking trail connects the Palatinate and Rheinhessen. The genius here is that the 45 km long main trail can be divided into six shorter circular trails as the mood takes you.

2. the journey is short and uncomplicated

Long and time-consuming journeys to the trails annoy me. Of course, this can't always be avoided, but it has to be kept within reasonable limits. That's why Rheinhessen, thanks to its good location between the Rhine-Ruhr, Rhine-Main and Rhine-Neckar metropolitan regions, is particularly suitable for a hiking trip. The metropolitan areas are virtually on the doorstep and are well connected to Rheinhessen via public transportation and highways. Which hiking trail is best to reach how, you should of course research in advance.

My tip for the journey to Rheinhessen:
Those who wish to travel by public transport should stay close to the Rhine and seek out the hiking trails near the cities. Here offer the RheinTerrassenWeg between Mainz and Worms, the Hiwweltour Bismarck Tower near Gau-Algesheim and the Hiwweltour Westerberg near Ingelheim.

If you have a car, you can quickly get to the countryside thanks to the good highway connections. Absolutely necessary if you want to enjoy the four certified circular hiking trails Hiwweltour Eichelberg, Hiwweltour Heideblick, Hiwweltour Tiefenthaler Höhe and Hiwweltour Aulheimer Valley in the Rheinhessen Switzerland would like to head for.

3. to stop at typical regional taverns and wine taverns

Yes, I admit it. For me, stopping for a bite to eat is just as important as the hike itself. If I don't get something decent to eat and drink, my mood drops very quickly. No matter how good the food is Backpack catering. A visit to a Straußwirtschaft or Gutsschänke simply belongs in Rheinhessen. I prefer regional food and drinks without a lot of frills.

That's exactly what you'll find in Rheinhessen in many exciting places. Mostly directly at the vintner's, outside on the terrace or in the cozy wine tavern. With Rheinhessen wine (or grape juice) and hearty dishes like Bung CheeseHandkäs, Winzersteak and meatloaf, you quickly regain your strength.

A nice place to stop for a bite to eat:
The Junk Mill in Neu-Bamberg is the ideal conclusion, if you are on the Hiwweltour Eichelberg or Hiwweltour Heideblick on the way. It is best to use the parking lot in Neu-Bamberg on Junkerweg. From there, access roads lead to both tours and you are only 300 m away from the restaurant.

And another tip:
At the Hiwweltour Neuborn there are equal four great places to stop directly on the way. The tour is only 8.1 km long. There is enough time to enjoy the different wines of Rheinhessen at your leisure.

4. the warmth and openness of the people

Ok, I'm not a true Rhinehesse. But I've been in the area for a few years and, thanks to my job, I'm often in contact with a wide variety of people. Nevertheless, I'm always asked what makes Rheinhessen so special. Why is it somehow easier, more uncomplicated and heartier here than in other regions? Is it the 1,600 hours of sunshine per year on average, the rolling hills that have a relaxing effect on the mind, or do people just look too deeply into their wine glasses every now and then?)

The truth probably lies somewhere in between. Nevertheless, to understand it a little better, I have the original Rheinhessen and Culture and wine ambassador Sigrid Krebs asked to explain to me what makes people special. For her, it's quite simple:

"It's the openness to the world coupled with a certain curiosity, as well as the direct blunt way of welcoming people into our midst. Just seeing everything a little more calmly: "Nothing can be so bad that it's not good for something.""

True to the motto:

"Aller - then, take care". "Jo, do it better.

5. experience winemakers during wine walks and wine festivals

Finally, I can't help but talk about the most characteristic feature of the region: wine. What would Rheinhessen be without its elixir of life? One does not even want to imagine it. The grape juice is cultivated here on more than 26,500 hectares. That makes Rheinhessen to the largest wine-growing region in Germany! But size is not everything. The quality of the wine is also right again and many young winegrowers are working with great commitment to sustainably polish up the image of Rheinhessen.

If you want to experience the wine, I recommend you the wine walks and Rheinhessen-AUSGEZEICHNET-Weinfeste of the region. On fixed dates, the local communities and their winemakers invite you to these events. For me, there is no better way to taste the variety of Rhine-Hessian wines and to experience the winemakers up close during a conversation. You should not miss out on this community experience and plan it for your next hike.

My (short) conclusion:

Rheinhessen is well on the way to developing into a small but fine hiking region. Of course, this is not the case everywhere, but some areas are already excellent for hiking and stopping off for a bite to eat. Thanks to the good transport connections and the different trail formats, there is a suitable offer for every type of hiker.