The Neckarsteig
Walk all the way to Bad Wimpfen
After two-and-a-half years of planning, Odenwald Tourism Association (TGO) unveiled the new 126-kilometer ‘Neckarsteig’ hiking path between Heidelberg and Bad Wimpfen at the CMT tourism trade fair in January 2012. The project – co-funded by Rhine-Neckar Metropolitan Region – was the brainchild of the European triathlon champion Timo Bracht, a native of the nearby town of Eberbach.
Even before its official opening in April 2012, the new path attracted a great deal of interest and was named a ‘Hiking trail of quality’ (Qualitätswanderweg) by the German Hikers’ Association, in recognition of the quality of the walking experience it offers. The many different paths on the route are very narrow and authentic, so ideal for an ‘up close and personal’ experience of the countryside. Hikers can walk the whole route over several days, or choose individual sections for half or whole-day walks.
There are lots of sights along the way between Heidelberg and the spa town of Bad Wimpfen, and all of the major stops on the route can be reached by suburban railway and boat, so there are plenty of different ways to walk the Neckarsteig. The path covers an altitude of 3,127 meters. Highlights include picturesque historic town centers, magnificent landscapes, informative nature trails and ancient castles.