Altkoenig Ring Wall from Kronberg

The Altkoenig Ring Wall hike from Kronberg is a forest climb in the Taunus, Hesse, Germany, starting from the castle town of Kronberg im Taunus and rising to the Altkoenig at about 798 m, where the remains of a Celtic ring wall lie in the woods. The route begins at Burg Kronberg, Schlossstrasse 10-12, 61476 Kronberg, about 15 minutes on foot from Kronberg station on the S4, which runs from Frankfurt Hauptwache or Hauptbahnhof in about 25 minutes; timetables can be confirmed at rmv.de. Street parking in Kronberg is limited, so rail is the easier option. No permit or fee applies. The loop is about 14 km (approximate), takes about 4 hours 30 minutes and involves roughly 560 m of cumulative climb. This sustained ascent without serious exposure places it in the moderate class, and a basic fitness level is expected. Surfaces are forest roads, stony tracks and earth paths, which can be wet and slippery after rain. Tree cover is extensive, so shade is good in summer, while the summit area is more open. The main landmarks are Kronberg castle at the start, the long forest ascent, and the ring wall remains on the Altkoenig, where a scattered stone rampart marks the ancient enclosure. Because the summit has no shops, walkers carry food and water for the whole outing, and a map or offline GPS track is useful as the Taunus forest has many junctions. The route can be shortened by turning around at the ring wall and returning by the ascent path, or by cutting down toward another valley settlement with bus or rail links. There are no staffed refuge huts on the route, though forest shelters appear at some junctions. Spring and autumn offer the most comfortable temperatures, and the bare-branch months allow longer views through the trees. In snow or ice the upper sections demand more care and time.