Éguelshardt: Discover Hiking, Castle Ruins and Nature

You can get to know Éguelshardt through its hiking routes, castle ruins, local history and opportunities for nature observation. Two circular trails offer different highlights: “Autour des châteaux de Waldeck et de Falkenstein” passes through Éguelshardt and Philippsbourg and leads to the ruins of Waldeck Castle. “Sentinelles de grès” links several natural and historical sites. There are also historic buildings and traces of the past in the village centre. As you plan your trip, consider whether hiking, the history of the castle or nature observation will shape your stay.

Two circular trails, different highlights

The circular trail “Autour des châteaux de Waldeck et de Falkenstein” is classified as easy, is 13.3 kilometres long and has a stated duration of 4 hours and 15 minutes. These details give you a concrete basis for planning your time. The trail passes through Éguelshardt and Philippsbourg and leads to the ruins of Waldeck Castle. Route specifications and trail conditions may change; check the information before setting out.

The “Sentinelles de grès” circular trail passes through the forest and links the Erbsenfelsen sandstone arch, the wild Waldeck pond, Hanauer pond and its marsh, and the ruins of Waldeck Castle. Its stated stops therefore include both natural features and a historic building. If you would like to take in several such themes while planning your trip, this trail offers another option with a distinct focus.

Waldeck Castle and traces of history

The ruins of Waldeck Castle are open to the public and secured. Check the conditions before your visit. The castle was built at the end of the 13th century on three rocks west of the hamlet of Waldeck for Duke Ferry III of Lorraine. The trail to the ruins combines this history of the castle with a hike.

Historic details can also be found in the village itself: the village washhouse is made of pink sandstone and supplied by a local spring. Prehistoric grinding stones are visible in the village centre. You can explore both independently of the castle if you are interested in the village’s architectural heritage and older traces of its past.

The Sainte-Croix parish church was built from pink sandstone between 1854 and 1858. The Notre-Dame-des-Bois chapel marks a different period in history: it was the only building in Erbsenthal to survive the destruction of the other buildings during the 1939–1945 war. A prehistoric cave lies near the chapel, 250 metres north of the Erbsenthal pond dam.

Erbsenthal and nature observation

The Étang de l'Erbsenthal nature reserve is three kilometres long and covers 33 hectares. The marshland along the Falkensteinerbach offers opportunities for nature observation and is open to the public; a 2017 information leaflet describes these features. If you are interested in a guided visit, check locally to find out what is available.

Discover more destinations: Courcelles-Chaussy, Farébersviller, Rémilly, Creutzwald, Haut-Clocher, Basse-Ham, Brouviller, Terville

Go to the regional travel overview: Moselle.