Humbergturm, Kaiserslautern (Kat Nickola)
For the best views over Kaiserslautern, and an extremely photogenic tower that you’d expect Rapunzel to toss her hair from, take a hike up to the Humbergturm. It is a pleasant hike any time of year and the tower is always open to climb. In winter, if there is snow, you will find local kids sledding along the dirt road trails. In summer and fall, there will be young folks and families spending the afternoon picnicking in the open field. Evenings are perfect for watching the sunset and mornings are crisp and cool.
“Turm” means tower in German, so the Humberg tower stands on the ridgeline that borders the southern part of Kaiserslautern city. It was built in 1899 and completed in 1900. Local citizens financed building the tower at the location because it was a popular spot for local hikers. Building a tower had been attempted earlier, but it collapsed.
Kaiserslautern’s Humbergturm ()
There are three options for hiking to the tower:
1. Start at the Bremerhof.
This is the shortest hike at only 1.8km each direction. A large car park is available at the trailhead near the Landgasthof Bremerhof at the end of Bremerstrasse south of the Betzenberg neighborhood. The primary trail is well-marked and follows wide dirt forest roads. There are other, small trails, too, that are steeper and more direct. This is a very popular place to come for hikes on sunny Sundays.
The restaurant at the Bremerhof makes a great after-hike treat. There is an upscale indoor “Wirsthaus” that features locally sourced produce and meals made with wild game. In addition, the outdoor “Biergarten” has a casual atmosphere, all your favorite German snack foods and plenty of beers on tap.
2. Start in Betzenberg.
At only 2km each direction, this hike is comparable to starting at the Bremerhof, but you will be hiking with more local people. It is a popular route for dog walkers, mountain bikers and families out for a jaunt with the baby buggy. Again, the route follows well-marked wide, dirt forest roads.
There is a small parking lot on the dead-end Voltairestrasse. Betzenberg is known for being the residence of the Football Club Kaiserslautern (FCK) and their Fritz-Walter Stadium. On a game day, the area is inaccessible.
3. Start at the Wildpark.
This is the longest route, at 3.6km in each direction. By starting at the Wildpark car parking, you can make a visit to the Humbergturm a whole-day event. First you will follow the trails up into the Wildpark, before joining up with the Betzenberg trail. Follow the red tower trail markers that are painted on trees at intersections. This trail has the most elevation gain.
The Kaiserslautern Wildpark is a free outdoor zoo with animals that are native to this area. They have some special ancient species, like aurochs and tarpans, that are part of back-breeding programs. Read more here.
The parking for the Wildpark is off Entersweilerstrasse across from the Quack am Wildpark, which makes for a great after-hike meal or drink.
Humbergturm Trail Icon (Kat Nickola)
