sebsjourneys

Rauher Kulm, Neustadt am Kulm

3/19/2016

I've seen Rauher Kulm peeking out over the landscape every time I'm driving around Netzaberg but I never actually knew you could hike up to the top. A few weeks ago I just decided to get out and explore near home and found this! Rauher Kulm is an extinct volcano located only about 20 minutes north of Grafenwöhr. There is an observation tower at the top of the mountain that you can go to the top of after you hike up and it offers great view of towns all around the area!

The GPS address will get you to the base of the mountain where there are multiple road-side parking spots. From the parking area, it is about a 20 minute hike up to the top of the mountain. Just follow the trail markings to Aussichtsturm, and you will find the path leading up to the tower.

It was a little cold and the path was icy today but still very doable for a winter hike.

awesome place for a picnic when it gets a little bit warmer! Turtle and I will definitely be coming back here in the spring.

There are quite a few little hiking trails around here- I only did a short one for this first time but will be doing some different ones next time. I always love the way Germans mark the trails for hiking.

Made it to the tower!

From the top, you can see Waldeck, Kemnath, Eschenbach, Netzaberg. The view from the top is amazing! It is well worth the trip up the stairs.

GPS Address: Am Sporrer 20

95514, Neustadt am Kulm

Castle Ruins

Burgruine Kurnburg... Castle Ruins

3/15/2016

Burg Ruine Kurnburg

Winter months around here in Bavaria can really drag on and on so trying to find something to do especially on the rare sunny weekend is a must!

I did a little research and came upon a bunch of castle ruins within an hour from home so have set out to explore whenever I have time. The first one I went to was Burgruine Kurnburg- about an hour southwest of Grafenwoehr/Vilseck area. The GPS directions just kind of got you to a general location in the city and then you have to look for signs for the castle ruins.

From the parking lot it's not a long walk to the ruins but there definitely were longer walking trails through the woods that I want to go back and explore!

This is the first site of the castle ruins once you get through the walls. It was deserted which was great for taking pictures and exploring at my own pace.

There are some stairs around the back to climb up and get the great view overlooking all the ruins.

After exploring the ruins for a little bit, I continued along the hiking trail around back following the little bird sign - which took me on a nice loop and eventually got me back to the parking lot.

One thing I really love about hiking in Germany is that they often have signs to explain about the nature in the area.

And fun things to do along the hike! :)

Additional Info:
GPS: Kürnberg, 93491 Stamsried
(This will get you into the town, follow signs it will lead you to the parking lot.)
Open Every day
Hike up to Castle: ~1km from parking lot to the top

Fests

Pumpkin fest in Ludwigsburg

10/19/2012

This past weekend I went with some friends to a pumpkin fest in a town near Stuttgart. Every year they have a theme and this year the theme was every Swiss... it was a really great time. They also had lots of yummy pumpkin food and I was in HEAVEN! :)

Ludwigsburg is about 20 minutes north of Stuttgart and about 2 1/2 hrs from Graf/Vilseck area. This fest happens for quite a long time each fall (which makes sense because it would take sooo long to set up all the displays with the pumpkins).

The fest is on the grounds of Bluhendes Barock -one of Europe's largest baroque residences and surrounded by splendid gardens. There's so much to walk around and see.

a swiss cow

lovely pumpkin colors!

William Tell

love all the fun designs they made

Pumpkin champagne! I always stock up for the year :)

This fest goes on for a long time and there are events that occur all throughout the months. We went on the last weekend and were able to see the HUGE pumpkins being smashed open and cut up.

I never actually realized there were so many different types of pumpkins and squash! This display goes on and on around the building.

Enjoying the sunshine and pumpkin treats :)

This is maltashen, a regional meal, (which is like a huge ravioli) in pumpkin soup and of course topped with pumpkin seeds and pumpkin oil.

The whole park is pretty cool- there's a great area for kids with rides- trains and slides and animals (I didn't take really any pictures in that part). This display has Rupenzel's castle in the background.

Ludwigsburg Pumpkin Fest (Kurbisfest)

http://www.kuerbisausstellung-ludwigsburg.de/en

The fest typically goes from early September to early November

GPS directions: Schloss Str. 30, Ludwigsburg, Baden-Wurttemberg, Germany

Belgium

Dinant

9/22/2012

Dinant, Belgium

We stopped by this lovely little town on the way home from Brussels. We visited the Citadel at the top and saw an interesting display of Disney sand creatures inside.... very random! It is also the town that the guy who invented saxophones is from so there was a cool display around the bridge.

Germany

A cold winter's walk

1/28/2012

Germany has been crazily lacking in snow this winter. Laura's whole visit in December produced hardly any snow and even through January, it might snow for a few hours and then it all melts. I've been able to get out and walk a little bit more this winter because it's so much easier without all the snow. It has been super cold though and still dreary as ever though :(

Germany

Fall days in Grafenwoehr

10/16/2011

Just some pictures around Grafenwoehr from our Volksmarch today at school.... so amazing and "fall"-y

Czech Republic

Karlovy Vary

10/13/2011

Karlovy Vary is just a few hours away from me so this was a fun little day trip. Czech is known for it's spas- there are hot springs in a lot of areas so spa towns built up around those. I was able to get a facial and walk around and just enjoy the sites and food of the area.

There were some cultural festivals going on while I was there.

There were fountains all over the city that had the mineral waters that are supposed to be good for your health.... kind of just tasted like iron water!