HGGS Walking Day Five Castles, Medieval Knights and Poets
HGGS Walking Day
The HGGS invites all interested members on Saturday, 14th November 2026, to go hiking through the autumnal forests in the Neckar Valley. We will meet the HGGS group at the Academic Writing Retreat in Dilsberg, a walled village overlooking the Neckar Valley. From the large castle tower, you can enjoy a 360-degree view of the nearby towns, the Neckar and large stretches of forests, the Odenwald.
Setting off on the walk, you will see the age-old houses in the village, which offer some unique photo opportunities. We will then exit through a hidden gate and walk into the autumnal forest surrounding Dilsberg. A meandering path leads us down to the Neckar. Crossing the weir with its large masses of water, we will reach our first destination: the town of Neckarsteinach, home to four castles.
In Neckarsteinach, we will visit the old town with its half-timbered houses and two historical churches, one of which has relicts from the 14th to 17th centuries, including an iconic dog. A footpath will lead us up to the castles and you will get a chance to climb the tower of a large castle ruin to take panoramic pictures of the area, including the Dilsberg spires on the opposite mountain.
Returning to Neckarsteinach, we plan to stop at the Eichendorff Museum, where HGGS members will be invited for coffee, tea and cakes. A visit to the museum is possible and indeed recommended as you can learn more about the German poet, Joseph Freiherr von Eichendorff (1788-1857), and also the castles in the region, once home to another important poet, the Minnesänger Bligger von Steinach (ca. 1174 -1209).
We can join the HGGS writing group on their return to Dilsberg, a 40-minute hike up the forest, and take a bus back to Heidelberg. Alternatively, if people want to shorten the walk, one can take a bus or train from Neckarsteinach.
Participation
- It´s important to wear comfortable and solid shoes that allow you to walk down a forest path (300 m downhill). We will go “rain or shine”.
- HGGS members do not need to register, but please meet us in good time at the bus stop or directly in Dilsberg.
- Please make sure to check your HGGS-DOK emails for any related news.
Departure Times
- Heidelberg, Bismarckplatz: Bus 35 from Bus stop "D“ at 12:09.
- Neckargemünd, Hauptbahnhof: Bus 735 at 12:45.
- Meeting Point in Dilsberg: Youth Hostel at 1:00 pm.
- Updates (if any) will be announced on HGGS-DOK.
Approximate length of the walk
The walk will take around 3 ½ to 4 hours, including breaks. Depending on people´s abilities, the walk can be shortened. The visit of the castles is optional and people can stay in the Museum-Café in Neckarsteinach and wait for the return of the group to have tea and coffee together. There is a frequent train from Neckarsteinach to Neckargemünd for people returning to Dilsberg or Heidelberg.
- 5 km if you return by bus from Neckarsteinach
- 9 km if you return on foot to Dilsberg
Curious about the iconic Dog?
You´ll have to come to find out about it!