Schauenburg Castle

This panoramic route leads above the wine town of Oberkirch to one of the most striking castle ruins on the western edge of the Black Forest. The path explores the sun-drenched slopes of the Rench Valley, following a varied mixture of paved vineyard paths, shaded forest trails, and historic castle ascents. A central highlight is the ruins of Schauenburg, whose preserved residential towers and walls tower majestically over the Rhine plain, offering expansive views as far as Strasbourg Cathedral and the Vosges Mountains. In the surrounding fruit orchards and sparse forest edges, kestrels and various songbirds can be brilliantly observed, while the dry stone walls of the vineyards provide a habitat for wall lizards. The route features moderate inclines during the ascent to the castle but remains a pleasant experience for leisure hikers due to the good path conditions.