Discover Fürfeld: Trails and History

Fürfeld is framed by forests and vineyards. Hiking, cycling, and local history give a stay here several different focuses: trails lead through natural landscapes and wine-growing areas, while buildings and historic sites tell the story of the municipality’s long history. To plan your visit, it is worth first choosing between hiking routes, cycling paths, and cultural and historical attractions.

Hiking among vineyards and forests

The Staudernheim–Soultz-sous-Forêts long-distance hiking trail, marked with a blue bar, runs through Fürfeld. Its route leads from Bad Münster am Stein-Ebernburg onward toward the Palatinate and Alsace. This makes Fürfeld part of a regional long-distance hiking trail; its route covers a broader area than trails that link individual landscape and local landmarks.

The Rheinhessische Schweiz offers extensive hiking opportunities through natural areas and vineyards. Along the way are historic buildings and places of significance to local history. Another defining route is the Hiwweltour Eichelberg, which crosses pine-covered Eichelberg and the wild landscapes of the Rheinhessische Schweiz. Viewpoints and rest stops along the way include Nordpfalzblick.

The Hiwweltour also connects the village’s half-timbered character and wine culture with Baroque and medieval history. The route brings landscapes and architectural history together, rather than focusing on just one theme. A rest stop offers a view of Fürfeld. Two access routes connect the trail to the village: one leads in from the north, while another starts at the edge of the village and runs through vineyards toward Thalermühle. When choosing, you can consider whether the long-distance trail, the viewpoints, or the combination of vineyards and local history matters most to you.

Cycling routes and former railway lines

There are also a variety of landscapes to explore on a cycling trip. A cycling and walking path now runs along a former railway line between Wöllstein and Frei-Laubersheim. The route’s former purpose is part of its history; today it is used for cycling and walking.

A cycling route follows the Appel through natural areas and past old mills, castle ruins, and churches, as well as through vineyards, forests, meadows, and fields. The Appel flows through the municipality of Fürfeld. The landscape in the Appel and Alsenz valleys is gently rolling, and mountain biking is also possible there. These regional options differ in character: the former railway line is described as a path for cycling and walking, while the routes along the Appel and in the valleys offer varied landscape experiences and opportunities for mountain biking.

Chapels, local history, and remembrance

Fürfeld was first mentioned in a deed of donation dating to 897. The Castle and Templar Chapel of Iben offers a glimpse into another historical period: it stood at the center of a medieval Templar moated castle, first documented in 1258 as a commandery. Only the chapel and some remains of the fortification wall survive from the former moated castle. Only the chapel’s choir remains, and it is also counted among Germany’s oldest Gothic church buildings.

From Fürfeld, you can reach the chapel via the L 410 toward Hof Iben. Parking is available along the route to the chapel. Another historic building is the Baroque House: the local lords, the Barons of Kerpen, had it built around 1730 as a residence for the Schultheiß, or local magistrate. The Jewish cemetery preserves 98 gravestones; the last burial there took place in 1937. Together, these places tell the story of different periods and forms of architectural and cultural heritage.

Those primarily interested in hiking will find both a marked long-distance trail and the landscape- and history-focused Hiwweltour Eichelberg in Fürfeld. Cyclists can explore the former railway line or the routes along the Appel and in the valleys. The chapel, Baroque House, and cemetery offer additional, tangible connections to the history of the village.

Discover more destinations: Spabrücken, Hochstätten, Entenpfuhl, Roth, Seibersbach, Volxheim, Lauschied, Bretzenheim.

For the overview of the wider area: Bad Kreuznach.