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***image1***Kaiserslautern-Süd (South) is one of the nine union communities of Kaiserslautern County. It consists of six villages – Trippstadt, Stelzenberg, Schopp, Queidersbach, Linden and Krickenbach. The administration office is located on Pirmasenser Strasse in Kaiserslautern and the union community mayor is Uwe Unnold.
The six villages are located on an area of 9,000 hectares, between 250 and 500 meters above sea level, and two-thirds of it is forest. About 11,500 inhabitants and thousands of tourists coming to this area each year enjoy the mild climate.
The Kaiserslautern-Süd Union Community is considered a paradise for hikers and people who enjoy being outdoors. There are 400 kilometers of marked hiking and bicycle paths, valleys, creeks and ponds.
Trippstadt is an official health resort town because of its good climate and its oxygen-rich air. It has a Baroque palace with a garden and park area. Today, the “Trippstadter Schloss” houses the forestry research facility of the state of Rheinland-Pfalz.
***image3***Another token is Wilenstein Castle, built in the 12th century. The twin castle sits above Karl’s valley, where people can walk through a romantic gorge. Today, the older and reconstructed part of the castle houses a youth hostel and, in summer, concerts take place in the castle yard.
A renovated former smithy is now the iron industry museum. Its exhibition shows how the extraction and production of iron brought wealth and prosperity to the town. The last iron-works were closed in 1892.
Guided tours of Brunnen-stollen, a former aqueduct (water supply tunnel) from the 18th century are offered from May to the end of August. Call 06306-341 to arrange a tour.
Stelzenberg, documented in 1534 for the first time, is known for its annual baking fest, where bread is baked in an historic baking house.
***image2***Schopp belongs to the so-called “wood land.” The wood was always one of the most important sources of income. Former quarries in the area are home to rare lizards and protected plants, such as sundew. Schopp is also known for its international bike races and the German Championship in mountain bike cross-country races.
Queidersbach is more than 1,000 years old. It has a museum that displays the life and works of forefathers.
Linden has about 1,300 inhabitants. Worth seeing is the little Protestant church that was renovated in 1999 and its old cemetery.
Krickenbach used to be a village of farmers and workers working in the nearby quarries. There are still a lot of old sandstone houses.
Worth a visit is the House of Sustainability, located at Johanniskreuz on B48, south of Trippstadt. It has displays explaining the following subjects: forest recovery, environmental education, environmental supply – raw materials, and protection of species. For details, visit www.hdn-pfalz.de.
Leisure activities in the Kaiserslautern-Süd Union Community include hiking, horseback riding, bicycling, swimming, fishing and tennis. A very interesting hiking path is the sculpture trail (Skulpturenweg), on which hikers can admire sculptures made of red sandstone, wood or steel. A mini-golf course is next to the Sägmühle camping and leisure center, where people can rent paddle boats for the Sägmühle Pond.
For more information on the Kaiserslautern-South Union Community and to check on guided tours of the iron industry museum, the water supply tunnel or the artists’ trail, visit www.kaiserslautern-sued.de or e-mail touristik@kaiserslautern-sued.de.
