Parks & Green Spaces

Pure Nature in and around Kirchheimbolanden

As an officially recognized recreational town, Kirchheimbolanden boasts many small and large green oases where you can wonderfully unwind from daily life. The city’s municipal area is home to a total of four natural monuments. In the north of the city, you’ll also find the Steinbühl-Schäfergraben nature reserve, and to the west, the Albertskreuz and Drosselfels-Schwarzfels nature reserves.

Palace Garden

The Palace Garden shapes the cityscape of Kirchheimbolanden, the Small Residence, and, due to its historical, dendrological, and architectural features, represents a unique enrichment for the Donnersberg district. Its valuable collection of rare, partly exotic woody plants places it among the most significant landscape gardens in Southwest Germany. The historic Palace Garden, which still defines the appearance of Kirchheimbolanden today, is a destination for guests from near and far, serving as a garden monument, a recreational area, and a site of historical events.

As a location for horticultural and architectural installations, the garden represents a living and sensitive system maintained through regular observation and care. Thanks to the harmonious interplay of the elements earth, stone, water, and air, the park is a habitat for diverse plant and animal life.

The valuable collection of rare and exotic trees elevates it to an attraction of supra-regional significance. The first mention of a palace garden dates back to 1602. The area belonging to the Nassau Counts’ palace complex at that time was referred to as the “Peacock Garden.”

Baroque Terrace Garden

The Terrace Garden presented itself as a perfectly designed landscape garden, through which a small meandering stream flows. Stylistic elements such as grottoes, temples, and bridges are depicted here in various views, creating essential attractions within the garden complex that define its sightlines. Even the section of the terrace garden situated between the palace and the ballroom conforms to the landscape design ideal, with the exception of the rectangular water basin lined with rows of trees. One of the three terraces is further enhanced by a small greenhouse, artfully built into the slope with side staircases, and a temple in the background.

With the reactivation of the baroque terrace garden, which was laid out 250 years ago, the city of Kirchheimbolanden has embarked on an ambitious project. This garden has been archaeologically explored for several years and is being gradually revitalized in parallel.

In June 2019, the “Lindenallee” (Linden Avenue) with 20 Crimean linden trees was inaugurated. In the “Avenue of Princesses,” each linden tree bears a white enamel medallion with the silhouette and name of a princess from the Weilburg-Nassau family.

Enjoy the sight of this extraordinary backdrop between the linden trees and the terrace garden, with a view of the ballroom.

Ziegelwoog

The Ziegelwoog, located on the edge of Kirchheimbolanden’s Old Town, served various purposes as early as the Middle Ages. It acted as a reservoir for the water supply of citizens and animals, and its water fed several public fountains in the Old Town. During the princely era, it supplied the extensive park and utility garden areas of the palace, the Palace Garden with its water features, and the bathing area, also serving as a fire-fighting pond. It is fed by the natural waters of the Leiselsbach stream and three historic spring catchments: the “Kupferstollenwasserleitung” (Copper Adit Water Pipe) and the “Alte” (Old) and “Neue” (New) “Hetzelsborner Wasserleitung” (Hetzelsborn Water Pipe).

Old Kirchheimbolanden residents learned to swim here until an outdoor swimming pool (Thielwoog approx. 1926-2011) was built adjacent to the Ziegelwoog, towards Judental. As part of renovation measures by the city and the nature conservation organization Pollichia, the Woog was transformed into a near-natural pond complex with green space in 2011. In the front area, a recreation and relaxation area with benches and a view of the water was created. Visitors to this enchanting, unique body of water will enjoy observing rare animal species. The moorhen, for example, has its most significant occurrence here in the Donnersberg district.

A number of protected species are native to the Woog here. Therefore, please understand that part of the area is fenced off and not accessible.

We ask you to stay on the designated path. Dogs are not allowed access to the Woog and must be tied up outside the area during your visit.

Schillerhain

The Schillerhain, a park-like complex in the west of the city on the so-called Wartberg, is a popular excursion destination for tourists, locals, and guests. It offers a magnificent view far over the city and region from the Schneckentürmchen (Snail Tower) or the Wartturm (Watchtower) (built in 1431).

To get a better view of the medieval city, a short walk downhill to the War Memorial is worthwhile, which
commemorates the soldiers who fell in both World Wars.

Make use of the many signposted hiking trails that lead from here around the Donnersberg. The Schillerhain Circular Trail (Circular Trail No. 5), for example, leads you through a wooded area with paved paths and offers a beautiful view of the Donnersberg. Enjoy a small “Weck, Worscht un Woi” snack at the Schreiber Hut and then hike to the Kanzel viewpoint.

The Schillerhain is freely accessible. Parking is available in the vicinity.

Steinbühl Nature Reserve

New wilderness with aurochs and wild horses in the Steinbühl Nature Reserve. Animal lovers and those seeking relaxation are warmly welcome!

The former quarry site is uniquely developing in its diversity. Forests, quarry edges, scree slopes, spring streams, and water points alternate with barren open spaces.

A 3.6 km long visitor path offers views of a semi-open pasture landscape with aurochs and Konik wild horses, which graze here year-round.

On five information boards, you will find a lot of interesting facts about aurochs, wild horses, and the Steinbühl grazing project. You need some luck and patience to observe them undisturbed from one of the 3 observation stands.

Special thanks go to the people who help every day to care for the animals and maintain this small paradise. NABU.