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Parking along the main street of Obersteinbach next to the Alsace Village hotel.
Tour de Château Noire sur Fond Blanc signposting
(S/E) With the Alsace Village hotel on your left, walk up the main street towards the west for 50 metres. Take Rue Schangetbach on your right and leave the village. The tarmac road becomes a dirt track.
(1) After 1 km, at the crossroads with several paths, in a bend, continue to the left. At the fork, turn left and leave the forest. Cross the meadows and re-enter the forest. The path branches off to the left. A boundary marker indicates the border that you are following on your right. Look for the rocks on your right.
(2) Continue to the right and climb up to Windsteinerfels. Then tackle the steep climb to the right of the rocks. You are walking along the border. At the top is the Bayrischer Windstein rock.
(3) Climb the ladder and enjoy the view of the valley and, on your right, Lutzelhardt-Adelsberg Castle. Descend and continue along the path to the right of the signpost, going around the other rocks. Further on, pass a picnic area, continue to the signpost and turn left.
(4) After about 500 metres, look for the hairpin bend on your right and climb up. The path turns to the left. Walk along the pink sandstone rocks and descend towards the wide forest path, which you follow to the right. At the fork on the left, follow the forest path to a bend.
(5) At the bend, near a rock, look for the path leading off to the left towards the east and descend. Walk along the rocks on the left and continue. Pass a picnic table and you will come to a multiple junction. Go straight ahead on the path to the left of the Steinbach Forest sign. Walk a few steps along the path and then turn directly onto the path on the right. Follow the winding path to the top.
(6) The path turns left one last time at a rock with flags (early November 2018). Follow the border along the balcony path running alongside a rocky outcrop of pink sandstone, then continue along a ridge path. At the junction, turn left towards Friendenkreuz.
(7) At the cross, there is a viewpoint over Fischbach bei Dahn. Take the path to the right of the rock where the cross is located and continue on this path below the cross, which turns sharply to the right, towards the south.
(8) At the crossroads with the signpost, turn left, north, onto the hairpin bend path. The forest path descends. At the crossroads below, continue straight ahead. You will come to a wide forest path and continue on the right. Descend to the ruins of Blumenstein Castle.
(9) After climbing up to the castle ruins, take the wide path on your left. Follow it to a multiple junction.
(10) Take the wide path straight ahead and immediately turn right onto the small path leading downhill. Descend until you reach the path running alongside the Wengelsbach stream, which you follow to the left. Stay on this path until you reach a road on the right.
No markings
(11) Turn right onto this road to cross the reservoirs and, once on the other side, walk a few steps to the right.
Blue ring markings
Immediately take the path climbing to the left behind the Steinbach Forest sign. The climb is about 1.5 km. At the crossroads with a wide forest path, continue straight ahead.
(12) When you reach another wide forest path at the top, walk a few steps to the right and take the middle path at the intersection. Continue straight ahead at the next junction. Climb until you reach a wider path. The markings end here.
Markings for the Tour de Château Noire sur Fond Blanc
(13) Turn right onto the wide forest path. Look for the trail on your left and take it to discover the Gypsy Rock, also known as the Bohemian Rock or Zigeunerfels. Turn left at the rock if you want to climb it, or right if you just want to pass by.
Keep to the right until you reach the forest path again. Turn left, then further on at the crossroads, turn right and pass the car park. At the road, cross carefully and continue straight ahead, quickly following the path on your right. This path runs safely alongside the road to the next car park.
(14) On the right, in the bend, is the Klingelfels rock. Retrace your steps and continue to the right. The path crosses a track; continue straight ahead. You will arrive at Wasigenstein Castle. After visiting the ruins, return to the information board and take the path on the right, theGR®5, and continue downhill. At the bottom, cross the pontoon opposite and turn left.
(15) Then turn right and walk along the fences. At the forest path, continue to the left. At the crossroads, turn right and then immediately left. Take the path on your right and climb up to the Wolffelsen climbing rocks. Continue to the left, pass in front of the rocks and continue to Petit Arnsbourg Castle. Cross the castle. The trail markings end here.
No markings
(16) At the fork just after leaving the castle, take the path on the right to see the Wachtfels viewpoint. The markings resume a little further on.
Signposting: Black Castle on White Background
The path turns right and climbs steeply to a forest path, which you follow to the left. At the crossroads, go straight ahead and then turn left to see the Watchfels viewpoint. Retrace your steps and take the path to the left. Descend to a wooden sign on your right.
(17) Look for the hairpin bend on your left and descend. When you return to the forest track, continue to the left. Take the path on your right. When you return to the road, descend to the main street of Obersteinbach in front of the Alsace-Village hotel (S/E).
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