1. Siefersheim
A hike with the lovely name of Hiwweltour Heideblick begins in the picturesque wine-growing town of Siefersheim. You can get provisions for your hike through Rhenish-Hessian right from an on-site vending machine. Siefersheim has several so-called Vinomaten – vending machines from which you can purchase well-tempered wine from local wineries. A wine glass is even included. Now nothing can stand in the way of your relaxing picnic.
2. Siefersheim Heerkretz and Golden Horn vineyards
The vineyards begin at the edge of town. High above the roofs of Siefersheim, the route leads past the Siefersheim Heerkretz and Golden Horn vineyards. The Heerkretz vineyard has particularly unforgiving, rocky soil in which the finest Riesling and Spätburgunder grapes thrive. The Golden Horn in Siefersheim, on the other hand, has a varied terroir due to alternating hillsides and flat areas as well as loess soil and volcanic rock. It all provides a solid basis for maximum wine variety in a minimum of space.
3. Ajaxturm
Between vineyards and nature reserves, the trail leads to one of the oldest vineyard towers in Rheinhessen – the Ajaxturm. The tower, built in 1865, is associated with a local love story: a miller’s daughter and a farmer’s son from Siefersheim fell madly in love with each other. But the miller forbade the relationship and married off his daughter to a wine merchant. Not long after, the miller’s daughter died of a broken heart. The young farmer never married and built the tower in the place where the lovers used to go for walks together. Today the tower, known as the Ajaxturm, bears silent witness to their tragic love.
4. Neu-Bamberg
The route continues past the tower, briefly grazes the heath, and then turns toward Neu-Bamberg. This medieval village in the heart of Rhenish-Hessian Switzerland is known for its historic clock tower, which you can also ascend, and for the lovingly restored castle ruins above the town from which you have a fantastic view of the surrounding hills and vineyards. A tour of the village can also be combined with a visit to the local wineries. Back on the hike, the route continues through the forest and then through the middle of the heath from which the hiking trail takes its name.
5. Siefersheim
Towards the end of the route, shortly before the destination and the starting point of the hike in Siefersheim, the heath once again gives way to vineyards. You now have the chance to visit the surrounding wineries for a wine tasting before arriving in the wine-growing town. If you’re here on the last weekend in August, don’t miss the wine festival, where all the wineries have their own stands.
