Sonnschied brings together three different perspectives: views from a hill south of the Hahnenbach, hiking trails through woodland and fields, and historic sites such as the village church dating from 1729.
Landscape and Views
At an elevation of about 400 metres, Sonnschied lies on a hill south of the Hahnenbach. From there, views extend from west to southeast. North of the village, beyond the Hahnenbach, the Lützelsoon begins, continuing into the Soonwald. Together, the Lützelsoon and Soonwald form one of the largest contiguous woodland areas in Rhineland-Palatinate. The view from the hill and the woodland north of the Hahnenbach thus offer two distinct landscape perspectives.
From Sonnschied, trails head in different directions through forests, fields and open natural landscapes. A walk over a wooded hill near Sonnschied also opens up views to the south. North of the village, near Rudolfshaus, the Soonwaldsteig reaches a quiet stretch of the Hahnenbach valley that is not served by a single road.
Hiking: Stages and Directions
The 14th stage of the Saar-Hunsrück-Steig runs from Herrstein through Sonnschied to the Forellenhof Reinhardtsmühle near Bundenbach. For this stage, bus services from Idar-Oberstein and Fischbach-Weierbach go to Herrstein; the return connection from the Forellenhof Reinhardtsmühle is via Kirn railway station. Check the timetable before planning, as services may change.
The Soonwaldsteig stage between Kirn and Bundenbach is about 10 kilometres long and takes approximately five hours. These route figures may change if there is a diversion. The distance and duration provide a specific planning guide for this stage, while for the 14th stage of the Saar-Hunsrück-Steig, the places along the route are the focus here.
Cycling
The Panoramatour auf dem Sonnenplateau passes through Sonnschied on its route from Berschweiler bei Kirn via Herrstein to Fischbach. Its varied terrain makes it particularly suitable for e-bikes or sporty riders. The tour is listed as 39.2 kilometres long and can be ridden in either direction or shortened. As route details should be checked independently before setting out, plan using the current route information.
Village History and Sights Along the Way
The Protestant village church dates from 1729 and is still regularly used for Protestant services. The Quereinhaus at Hauptstraße 8 is partly timber-framed, dates from 1868 and is considered a defining feature of the village.
Hellkirch, a medieval church ruin, and the large Schmidtburg castle complex can be reached from Sonnschied via marked hiking trails. A faithfully reconstructed Celtic settlement is also among the destinations linked to Sonnschied by marked hiking trails. The sites vary in character, from the church ruin and castle complex to the reconstructed settlement.
The Herrenberg visitor mine near Bundenbach is a slate mine. The path to the Herrenberg visitor mine near Bundenbach passes mining relics such as a narrow-gauge railway, a tunnel and spoil heaps. Check the mine's visitor information before travelling.
Discover more destinations: Sulzbach / Hunsrück, Allenbach, Hammerstein, Abentheuer, Vollmersbach, Idar-Oberstein, Kirschweiler, Brücken.
Go to the main travel overview: Birkenfeld.
