In Krickenbach, a well-maintained path leads through the Schweinstal Valley alongside a series of lakes. Along the way, landscape and art meet: 13 sandstone sculptures stand along the path. If you want to combine nature and art when planning your trip, you’ll find a clear local focus here—whether on foot or by bicycle.
Exploring the Schweinstal Valley on foot or by bicycle
The path can be walked from federal highway 270 in the direction of Queidersbach and can also be cycled. Both options follow the same route through the valley, so the choice mainly comes down to how you get around. The series of lakes provides the scenic backdrop, while the sculptures draw attention to the sandstone used here.
The 13 sculptures were created in 1986 as part of the first sculptors’ symposium in Rhineland-Palatinate. The art along the path is therefore not just a collection of individual works, but is also connected to the cultural history of the place. If you’re especially interested in sculpture, take time to appreciate the works not only as a group, but also in their varied forms.
Sandstone sculptures in varied forms
Michael Dan Archer’s “Passage” was made from a single stone that was sawn and split. Rainer Fest’s “Von hier aus” (“From Here”) is made up of three stele-like blocks of reddish sandstone. Together, they form a space that visitors can enter. Albert Hettinger’s “Auf und ab” (“Up and Down”), meanwhile, consists of two large sandstone blocks and is 5.5 metres tall. The three works show different ways sandstone can make an impact—as a single work, as a walk-in form or through its great height.
A later artistic connection also leads back to local stone: the sandstone used at the 2009 sculptors’ symposium in Krickenbach came from the Krickenbach Natural Stone Park run by Jürgen Picard. This offers a chance to consider not only the finished sculptures, but also the source of their material.
Church and local stonework
Krickenbach Protestant Church was built between 1964 and 1965 from red local sandstone and has largely retained its original appearance to this day. You’ll also encounter the stone in the village and surrounding area in other contexts: masonry, façade cladding and sculptures bear witness to the local stonework of the Carl Picard specialist company and its locally sourced products.
Located in the Schweinstal Valley, the Carl Picard natural stone works comprises sandstone quarries and a sawmill. The company processes sandstone from its own quarries. These details add a focus on craftsmanship and the locally visible material to the picture of sculpture.
Festivals and courses throughout the year
The Maypole Festival takes place every year in and in front of the “In den Dorfwiesen” multi-purpose hall. In summer, sculpting courses are also held at the Picard company’s sandstone quarry in the Schweinstal Valley, led by sculptor Willi Bauer. The festival and the courses are separate events held at different locations. If you’re planning your trip around one of these dates, check the latest details in advance.
More to explore in the wider Kaiserslautern travel destination
Beyond Krickenbach, the wider Kaiserslautern travel destination offers other distinct themes for visitors interested in culture and nature. In Landstuhl, Nanstein Castle is a landmark of the town of Sickingen and offers sweeping views over the West Palatinate. In Otterberg stands the abbey church dating from the 12th century, described as a monumental masterpiece of early Gothic architecture.
The Mehlinger Heide offers yet another focus: it is considered the largest heathland area in southern Germany. An approximately 1.5-kilometre heathland discovery trail passes information boards and stations and connects to the Palatinate Forest hiking trail network. These regional destinations add further cultural and landscape themes to the local combination of the Schweinstal Valley, sculptures and sandstone without conflating them with Krickenbach.
Discover more destinations: Erzenhausen, Heiligenmoschel, Sulzbachtal, Lambsborn, Enkenbach-Alsenborn, Landstuhl, Dansenberg, Erfenbach.
Go to the overview of the wider travel destination: Kaiserslautern.
