Attractions and Places To See around Bellheimer Forest - Top 20

Here's a link to the former Friedrichsbühl Hunting Lodge: https://xn--friedrichsbhl-6ob.de/ Article from Pfalz-Express: Bellheim – The historic Friedrichsbühl Hunting Lodge in Bellheim is experiencing a modern revival: The Rhineland-Palatinate Ministry of Agriculture is supporting the project "Tourist Development of the Former Friedrichsbühl Castle in Bellheim" with approximately €41,200 in EU funding. The project, implemented by the Local Action Group (LAG) "From the Rhine to the Wine," aims to faithfully reconstruct the castle's Renaissance portal and create a virtual representation of the building using augmented reality. This is intended to attract not only tourists, but also school groups and people with limited mobility. Friedrichsbühl Hunting Lodge, also known as Neuhaus Bellheim, was built in 1552 by Elector Frederick II of the Palatinate in the Renaissance style. During the Thirty Years' War, the castle, which was last used as a stud farm, was abandoned and destroyed twice, in 1627 and 1674. Today, only the moat, a memorial stone, and an information panel remain. The castle's Renaissance portal, which served as the entrance to St. Nicholas Church in Bellheim until 1897, can now be seen at the Historical Museum of the Palatinate in Speyer. State Secretary Andy Becht (FDP) said that the combination of a scale replica of the Renaissance portal with new, innovative augmented reality applications will be an attraction for locals and tourists alike. Background: The project is being funded under the LEADER program, which promotes rural development through local actors. LEADER, an EU funding program, supports projects in rural areas that are initiated and implemented by local groups.

Friedrichsbühl Hunting Lodge (also known as Neuhaus Bellheim), located north of Bellheim, was built in 1552 by Elector Frederick II of the Palatinate as a Renaissance structure. During the Thirty Years' War, the lodge, which had most recently been used as a stud farm, was abandoned. After being destroyed twice, in 1627 and 1674, the ruins were sold for demolition around 1725. The moat remains at the original site of the lodge, and a memorial stone and an information panel mark its former location. The lodge's Renaissance portal served as the entrance to St. Nicholas Church in Bellheim until 1897; today it is located in the Historical Museum of the Palatinate in Speyer.

Today it seemed deserted, but it must be very busy here in the summer.

The idea of a grotto on the Druslachbach next to the hollow path on the Oberwaldbrückel with a figure of the Virgin Mary similar to traditional May altars came from August Jochem II and Jakob Simon in the early 1930s. This path to this grotto was a Sunday stroll for many Lingenfeld residents until the 1960s or was used for the obligatory May flower hike. During the war and post-war years, interest in the grotto waned and it fell into disrepair. In the early 1960s, the pensioner Albert Jochem and his helpers ensured that a small, stone-lined crypt with a figure of the Virgin Mary was built on the site of the former pre-war grotto. This invited many hikers to linger as always. Unfortunately, over time the grotto fell into disrepair again and the grotto of the Virgin Mary also disappeared. In 2005, Heinz and Gerdi Benz and Fred Czerny revived the old tradition of the grotto of the Virgin Mary. They renovated the square with the grotto to its current appearance.

The “Loschter Handkeesfescht” is usually around May 1st and lasts for three days. THE HISTORY OF THE HANDKEESFESCH At the beginning of the 20th century, “butter-pushing” and “handkeesdrikking” were centuries-old traditions in “Loschter” households. After a large parade in Karlsruhe in 1924, at which a delegation of “Loschter Handkeesdrikker” were greeted with great enthusiasm, the two committed Lustadt residents Georg Lehr and Georg Ott decided to launch the 1st “Loschter Handkeesfescht” in 1925. The idyllic spot in the Lustadt Mayflower Forest was chosen as the location, and over the decades the name “Loschter Handkeesplatz” became a synonym for the Palatinate’s joie de vivre and coziness. The declared aim of the club’s founders was to organize a family-friendly folk festival at affordable prices. In 1925, only a few hundred visitors found their way to the festival grounds, but over the decades the initially modest festival has become one of the largest folk festivals in the southern Palatinate. Tens of thousands of festival-goers now visit us every year. In addition to around 5,000 seats (around 1,000 of which are covered), the festival grounds in the heart of the Mayflower Forest offer plenty of space for our guests. On nice days, it is especially young families who, well equipped with blankets, picnic in a sunny spot in the forest at moderate prices. (Excerpt from loschter-handkeesfescht.de)

There is currently only a memorial stone for Friedrichsbühl Castle. In the future, the castle portal will be built on this spot.

Unfortunately, the café is not open, but the farm shop and you can stay overnight there. The gardens, beautiful and very relaxing. 🫶

nice little grotto and "ladybug cave" (hihi)