Walks on the r. (N.) Bank of the Oos.
To the Alte Schloss (3/4 hr.): a carriage-road leads past the Neue Schloss, and ascends to the N., passing a Column (10 min.) with an inscription under an oak. At the donkey-station (3 min. farther; donkey to the Alte Schloss 48 kr.) the well-kept bridle-path diverges to the r., traversing fragrant pine-plantations (direction-posts at doubtful points). At the (12 min.) Sophienruhe (1238 ft.), a projecting rock with a pavilion and fresh spring, the path crosses the carriage-road, and a second time 10 min. farther. After 2 min. the path again diverges to the r., ascends more rapidly, and leads to the castle in 5 min. more.
The *Alte Schloss Hohenbaden (1610 ft.) (restaurant), an extensive structure situated on a buttress of the Batter, probably erected in the 10th or 11th cent., was the seat of the Margraves until the construction of the New Castle in 1479. Since its destruction by the French in 1689 the castle has been a complete ruin, but the tower has been rendered accessible by means of stairs. The *view from the top embraces the valley of the Rhine from Speyer to a point far beyond Strassburg (not itself visible); in the foreground lies the charming valley of Baden, with its bright villas and smiling pastures, presenting a striking contrast to the sombre pine forests.
On the summit of the Batter, near the Alte Schloss, rise the *Felsen (‘rocks’), a number of fantastically cleft masses of porphyry, at one place resembling the ruined walls of a castle, at another a gigantic tower. A good path leads through this chaos of rock, of which the Felsenbrücke, commanding a magnificent view, is the finest point. A broad path leads round the S. base of the rocks back to the castle, passing an inscription to the memory of Count Broussel, who caused the path to be constructed in 1839.
On a rocky eminence 2 M. to the N.E. of the Alte Schloss, and above the village of Ebersteinburg, are the ruins of *Alt-Eberstein (Ebersteinburg , 1601 ft.), which, like the Yburg (p. 197), was once a Roman watch-tower. A Rhenish tradition relates that the Emp. Otho I., being unable to take the castle by force, induced the count to leave it by inviting him to a tournament at Speyer, treacherously intending to attack the stronghold in his absence. The count, being informed of this by the emperor's daughter during the dance, hastened back to his castle, and prevented its capture by his timely return. The tradition very properly ends with the marriage of the valiant count and the princess.
A beautiful prospect, similar to that from the old castle, is obtained hence, embracing the richly cultivated lower Murgthal with its flourishing villages. The tower has been restored, and is easily ascended (restaurant adjoining).
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