Very close to the Hermann-Hesse town of Calw yet in the midst of
intact nature. Our breath-taking, varied pleasure trail begins directly
behind the municipal park just a few meters away from
the market place that is lined with half-timbered houses. You can of
course also start at the hikers’ hostel “Wanderheim” in Zavelstein
. In the initial ascent we are accompanied by ancient oak and beech
trees, then suddenly we are confronted by the first massive red
sandstone rock, the “Gimpelstein” , with a great view
of the pulsating life below. A moment later, an alpine path leads us to
the most gruesome spot in the Calw Forest, the scaffold , where executions used to be held. The highlight of the trail is undoubtedly the path through the Rötelbachtal valley. Hikers can refresh themselves in the natural water-treading basins. But take care, for the path can always be slippery.
… explore, experience, enjoy.
Another special attraction is the “Stubenfelsen” .
Here in earlier times ice-age hunters spent the night outdoors round a
campfire under this rock. When we reach the top our enjoyment of nature
is replaced by culinary delights. You will love the regional cuisine and
unique atmosphere of the “Wanderheim” in Zavelstein . From here it is worth making a short detour to the little romantic town of Zavelstein with its castle ruins . After a well-earned rest our journey continues through lovely orchard meadows and flat agricultural and forest paths back to Calw. And it is worth stopping for a few minutes of reflection at the “Wölflesbrunnen” (“Wolf’s Well”) or to look out for young boars in the wild boar compound.
Route description
The idyllically situated hiking home in the middle of the unique crocus meadows on the heights of Zavelstein is the start and finish point of our tour. Under the shade of the leafy canopy, we reach the information board, the official starting point of the Genießerpfad trail. We take another look at it and look at the photos. We will soon be up close and personal. We're ready to go!
We start our pleasure hike via a small path that turns off to the left. After crossing a small road, we come across a beautiful covered wooden bench at the edge of the forest. Even though our hike was only a short time ago, we should pause here and enjoy the silence. We look out over meadows and fields to the Calw suburb of Speßhardt.
The path continues downhill across beautiful meadows into the village. We cross a road and immediately climb up the hill again until we reach a wall. There we turn right onto a field path, past orchards and then enter the forest again until we reach a small road, which we cross again and then follow a comfortable forest path.
We take the first turn-off to the left. Along the way, we can take a short detour to the Wölflesbrunnen fountain, where many travelers used to stop on their way home from Calw to take water for their homes and farms.
The trail continues past the wild boar enclosure.
Tip: be sure to take a short detour to the left to the viewing platform and get up close to the wild boars!
We leave the wild boar enclosure behind us and about 500 meters later come to a rest area with a shelter and a barbecue area. An inviting spot where we can take a rest. We then continue along a fin trail and keep to the right at the end. Information boards, which give us an informative impression of the old forest professions in the region, line the slightly downhill hiking trail.
At the stone bench, we turn right and walk along the Schießbach stream. Here, above these medieval facades, there is an opportunity for a detour and a leisurely stop in the Hermann Hesse town of Calw.
The market square in Calw is a cozy, homely place in the beautiful town of Hermann Hesse. Idyllic half-timbered houses with inviting cafés adorn the cobblestone-lined square. Hesse himself once raved about Calw as the most beautiful town between Bremen and Naples, Vienna and Singapore. He couldn't have been wrong!
On the way back, we walk uphill along Salzgasse (a feeder path to the Genießerpfad) and into Calw's town garden, with its green, plant-filled path of poems. The literary writings of the famous author Hermann Hesse accompany us for a few meters of the path. We finally leave the park via steps and cross the Schießbach stream over a wooden bridge back to the starting point.
A narrow path leads us pleasantly uphill through the refreshing, green nature of the mixed forest. We climb over some shallow stone steps and pass a mighty tree at the edge of the path. A few meters further on, a first magnificent viewpoint opens up before us: the Gimpelstein. Read on the informative plaque how it got its name and what significance it has or had. From the jagged red sandstone rock, we have a wonderful view of Calw and the heights around Calw as well as the Nagold valley. The tabular rock formation is ideal for a short breather, but we soon want to continue our hike to explore the wonderful nature on the heights of Calw.
We walk up a few more meters, then keep left and continue on a path along the mountainside. There are a few sections that are almost alpine in character on the so-called Felsenweg. We then cross a forest path and soon discover the Calwer Schafott, a brick-built, round pedestal on which a replica of a sword is mounted. The stone circle was erected in 1800 and used by the town of Calw as a place of execution until 1818. A display board provides detailed information about the blood scaffold, as it is translated from French. A creepy place!
After 100 meters on a fin track, we reach a gravel path, which we follow for about one kilometer, then turn right onto a wonderfully soft forest path and after a short time we come back to the gravel path. After about another kilometer, watch out, as our signpost now points to the left at a right angle. At the information board, we follow the steep path downhill. From here, we walk along the over 100-year-old butter stacks, which got their name because farmers' wives used to take their goods to the Calw market along this path. It is a great section of the trail that leads us over roots, sticks and stones and up a few steps into a true natural idyll. As the steps are almost always a little slippery, a little caution is required.
The stream of the same name has made its way through the Rötelbach valley. A path through the most beautiful nature. We cross the stream on three ancient stone blocks and immediately keep left along the stream. We are accompanied by densely moss-covered stones, wildly hanging lichen, exciting light reflections, birdsong and the gurgling and rushing of the wild stream. If you're lucky, you might see a small trout dart under a stone from time to time. We can deepen the "Rötelbach Valley" experience. Simply take off your shoes and walk a few meters barefoot in the stream. The subsequent tingling of the feet is reminiscent of earlier times and is particularly fun for the children.
This magnificent natural spectacle accompanies us down the valley for some time. We make sure that we follow our path to the right at a fork in the road over the Rötelbach stream and shortly afterwards we find ourselves on a forest path, which we follow further down towards Kentheim. The first gables of the small village can already be seen. We now turn right at an acute angle onto a steep, almost alpine path that leads us to a bizarre sandstone formation, the Stubenfelsen. Fancy a little test of courage? Then simply try to walk through the narrow, approximately two-metre-long crevice (tip: take off your rucksack, it will be easier). But beware: as the saying goes, the person who cheated will be crushed. After this adventure, which hopefully ended well, we climb a few more meters and cross a forest path.
Following the markings, we now climb up the wild, winding rocky path lined with huge stone blocks to the small village of Lützenhardt. Once there, we are rewarded for the sweat of the ascent with a magnificent view, some of which extends as far as the Swabian Alb.
When crossing the village road, we pay careful attention to the markings opposite and continue on a pleasant meadow path that leads us along fields into the forest. We follow the path through the shady woodland and reach our starting point at the Zavelstein hiking lodge. Beautifully situated by the forest and with a wonderful beer garden, the restaurant is a welcome opportunity to fortify ourselves and give our hiking feet the rest they need.
