Bernstein Castle – Ortenbourg Castle loop from Dambach-la-Ville

Hiking trails & Routes

Bernstein Castle – Ortenbourg Castle loop from Dambach-la-Ville

Moderate

4.8

(128)

417

hikers

Bernstein Castle – Ortenbourg Castle loop from Dambach-la-Ville

04:06

13.6km

420m

Hiking

Moderate hike. Good fitness required. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels. The starting point of the route is accessible with public transport.

Last updated: July 30, 2026

Waypoints

Start point

Train Station

Get Directions

1.54 km

Blienschwiller Gate

Highlight • Castle

Especially picturesque with the stork nest on top

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1.94 km

Saint Sebastian Chapel in Dambach-la-Ville

Highlight • Religious Site

A little above Dambach chapel. All around vineyards.

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2.59 km

Bibelefelsen

Highlight • Natural Monument

A rock formation, large and mossy in the forest, on the hiking trail to Bernstein Castle

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3.98 km

Bernstein Castle

Highlight • Castle

The Bernstein castle ruins are about 560 meters above sea level and, like most hilltop castles, offer an excellent panoramic view of the surrounding area.
The tower can be climbed.

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7.70 km

At the end of the ridge, at an altitude of 443 meters, lies Ortenbourg Castle, built between 1260 and 1265 by Rudolf Habsburg and one of the most beautiful ruins in the Rhine Valley. A masterpiece of military architecture, with its high gorge surrounding a 32-meter-long dungeon, it is visible from afar and blends perfectly into the landscape. This dungeon offered six levels of defensive fire, and its pentagonal design allowed for better deflection of attackers' projectiles. The recently founded association "Les sentinelles de l'Ortenbourg" (Ortenbourg Sentinels) aims to preserve, expand, and revitalize the castle.

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9.10 km

View of Chapelle du Taennelkreuz from the Vineyard

Highlight • Viewpoint

10.6 km

Rocher des Celtes

Highlight • Natural Monument

Rock formation with a viewpoint offering a wonderful view of the Rhine plain, as well as an information board about the Celtic stone.

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13.6 km

End point

Train Station

Way Types & Surfaces

Way Types

6.61 km

3.33 km

1.94 km

1.55 km

< 100 m

Surfaces

5.12 km

3.13 km

2.09 km

1.74 km

1.14 km

231 m

Elevation

Nothing selected – click and drag below to see the stats for a specific part of the route.

Weather

Thursday 8 October

14°C

5°C

49 %

Additional weather tips

Max wind speed: 12.0 km/h

to get more detailed weather forecasts along your route

Comments

March 7, 2026,Vogesentour von Dambach-la-Ville-Chateau Ortenbourg-Chateau Ramstein-Chataue Bernstein🇫🇷

We started in Dambach-la-Ville and entered the town through the historic Porte de Blienschwiller city gate. From there, we strolled through the picturesque half-timbered town and visited the Église Saint-Étienne church. We then left the town through the second city gate, the Porte de Dieffenthal, and continued our hike through the sunny vineyards.

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September 17, 2025,🇨🇵 Elsass: Château du Bernstein – Château d’Ortenbourg Runde von Dambach-la-Ville

Dear @Tartufo 🇩🇪 🐾 had invited us on a hike. We were out with five Lagotti, and Billie, the only male, was delighted to have the female company. We started in Dambach-la-Ville, a very beautiful place, just as you would expect from Alsace – small and large, colorful half-timbered houses and picturesque little streets. The path led us, with a …

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September 12, 2024,🇲🇫 Dieffenthal - Château de l’Ortenbourg - Château de Ramstein - Château du Bernstein (gelaufen)

I had actually already written off the tour, but the good lady made me a deal: tomorrow, when I'm driving home, I'll go straight to the washing machine without stopping at the castles and I could do the Ramstein tour if I wanted. That way, everyone would have fun...
The tour began and ended comfortably between the vines. There, people …

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