The “nine euro ticket” issued by the Confederation, which can be purchased for the summer months of June, July and August, makes the hiking season particularly attractive. The discounted monthly ticket will be valid for local transport throughout Germany. Numerous excursion destinations and other sights can be reached economically and ecologically.
Hiking buses in SÜW and beyond
Line 503, also known as “Kalmitexpress”, connects Neustadt via Maikammer with the highest point in the Palatinate Forest, the Kalmit.
Line 506 crosses the Edenkoben valley along a large number of excursion destinations. Along the way it passes leisure and excursion destinations such as the Palace of Villa Ludwigshöhe – the summer residence of the Bavarian King Ludwig I – or the Forsthaus Heldenstein. The circuit leads back to Edenkoben station through the municipalities of Weyher and Rhodt.
Wildlife and hiking park, Berwartstein Castle
In the summer season, line 521 runs every two hours on Sundays and public holidays from the Landau railway station via Eußerthal to the forester’s refuge Taubensuhl. Along the way you will also get close to the hiking stops “Bivio Siebeldinger Hütte” and “Am Essig”. Line 521 also goes to the Dernbachtal, for example for excursions around Ramberg or Dernbach.
With line 531, the Südliche Weinstraße wildlife and hiking park near Silz will be served every hour on Sundays and public holidays from 1 May.
Berwartstein Castle (stop “Erlenbach, Berwartstein / Seehof”) is served every hour from Bad Bergzabern with line 545 on Sundays and public holidays.
Connection ticket required in France
Those interested can take line 527 from Annweiler station to Trifels Castle every hour. The onward journey within Annweiler with the same ticket, whether changing from the train or arriving by bus, is possible free of charge up to Trifels Castle. The line also serves the “Windhof” and “Ahlmühle” hiking parks, as well as the climber’s hut and the natural burial place of Trifelsruhe.
From the French railway station of Wissembourg, served every hour by line 543 from Bad Bergzabern, line 317 commutes across the Maginot line to Fleckenstein Castle. However, line 317 to the castle is not part of the VRN fare, so you must also buy a single ticket for 2.50 euros. If you have a current bus ticket, the castle offers a 50% discount on admission.
Seasonal trains stop in the SÜW district
From the beginning of April until probably 1 November, the additional excursion trains to Wissembourg, Strasbourg and Dahner Felsenland will be operational again on weekends and public holidays.
The “Bundenthaler” hiking train, which also runs on Wednesdays, connects Neustadt to Dahn and Bundenthal, stopping, among other things, at Annweiler station. The “Felsenland-Express”, which departs from Karlsruhe, also offers a connection to Dahn and Bundenthal on weekends and public holidays without having to change trains; boarding is also possible at Annweiler station. Alternatively, you can take the Queichtalbahn between Landau and Pirmasens to the “Hinterweidenthal Ost” stop and then use the “Wieslauterbahn” for trips to Dahn and Bruchweiler.
Express trains on offer
The route from Neustadt an der Weinstraße via Wissembourg to Haguenau and Strasbourg is served by the “Strasbourg-Express”. In the SÜW district, passengers can hop on and off the “Strasbourg-Express” during the season at all stops between Neustadt and Landau, as well as in Steinfeld, Kapsweyer and Schweighofen.
The “Weinstrassen-Express” in turn runs from Koblenz to Bad Kreuznach via Neustadt to Wissembourg. The “Elsass-Express” connects Mainz via Alzey / Worms to Neustadt and Wissembourg. In the SÜW district, passengers can benefit from these two additional trains from Steinfeld, Kapsweyer and Schweighofen stations, for everyday use or for an excursion.
Information
More information is available online at www.suedlicheweinstrasse.de/wanderbusse. Timetable information is available online at www.rolph.de, www.vrn.de and at www.bahn.de.