On the heights of Rheinweiler, Maria Hügel and Bamlach

To reach the hikers’ car park, head towards Blansingen on the right in the centre of Rheinweiler (municipality of Bad Bellingen) and go under the railway bridge. Follow this road, Blansingerstrasse, which climbs at a right angle, then continue straight on to the end, where the car park is 100 m to the right.

(S/E) Head north. At the Hochbehälter Rheinweiler signpost, take the path on the right following the Wiiwegli and go straight on at the next fork. Enter the forest on the left at the next fork. At the Stationenweg signpost, go straight on, following the Wiiwegli. At the junction with the small road, continue straight on, still following the Wiiwegli. At the next junction is the Wegkreuz Bamlach signpost .

(1) Go straight on. Please note that this section of road is also used by cars. Enter the golf course grounds and facilities. You will come to a junction with an access road leading to the golf course. Please take care when crossing.

(2) Go straight on, following the Wiiwegli. Take care on this section of the path; during the season, there may be golf buggies about.

(3) At the Golfplatz Kapellenberg signpost , turn left towards the chapel.

(4) At the Kapelle Maria Hügel signpost, take the track on the right, then the small path on the right to reach the chapel.

(5) Maria Hügel Chapel. After your visit, retrace your steps. A shortcut is possible here. See Practical Information. Turn right to continue on the Wiiwegli below the chapel. The path is very grassy and barely visible, but at the edge of the forest you’ll find the Wiiwegli signpost. Here, the scenery changes; the path becomes a narrow, very picturesque track, sometimes a little muddy, running alongside a ravine and through an ancient forest. Further on, take the path on the left and, on leaving the forest, you’ll arrive in a meadow. Continue straight ahead on a grassy path that turns right to join, 200 m further on, a wide tarmac path slightly below.

(6) At the Blachengraben signpost, leave the Wiiwegli and take the tarmac path on the left. At the Wannenacker signpost, take the track on the left and follow the vineyards. Stay on this track until you reach the first houses in Bamlach: Rue Im Rebgärtle. Follow this street until you reach a crossroads with a small central square featuring a fountain.

(7) Continue straight on along Rue Alte Weinstrasse until you reach the junction leading to the campsite.

(8) Turn left onto Römerstrasse and stay on the higher ground. Pass the Bamlach campsite and continue straight on until you reach the car park (S/E).

(5) Just below the chapel, accessible via a flight of steps, there is a shelter and some picnic benches.

Shortcut between (4) and (7): after visiting the chapel, return to point (4), the signpost for Kapelle Maria Hügel. Turn left twice towards the village of Bamlach, whose rooftops are visible. Follow Kapellenweg. After the first houses, turn right. Go straight on at the first junction, then turn right at the second. Continue straight on along Belchenstrasse and follow it until you reach point (7), the small square with a fountain. Take the street on the left to rejoin the route and continue along Alte Weinstrasse.

(5) The Maria Hügel pilgrimage chapel is open daily from 9 am to 7 pm. Numerous benches around the chapel invite you to sit and reflect. Magnificent views of the Rhine plain and the Vosges.