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Explore the town of Heppenheim and make your way to the oldest castle in the Bergstrasse region. The views to the top are breathtaking, and rewarding yourself with a beer at the top is even better.
This easy hike to Starkenburg Castle is exactly how you want to end your day visiting the medieval town Heppenheim. Start your day making it to Marktplatz, the center of the historical part of town. If you're coming from the train station, cross the street and walk straight through the town. I always use the reference of a church spire in any city as a guide to the center. You'll know you're headed in the right direction once you're walking through half timbered houses and everything seems like a fairytale.
Once you reach Marktplatz either take that camera out, or enjoy a drink at any of the local cafés. Take in all the history dating back to the 17-16th centuries, and visit the tourist information in the center. That's where you can find maps to walk to the castle.
You can see the castle as a reference but the hike starts off the street Starkenburgweg. Meander through residential roads until it opens up to the small vineyard paths. All paths were either paved cement, rubble, or cobble stones. My group chose the longer path opposed to the steep one because we wanted to enjoy the sights. I suggest picking up a map in the tourist information center beforehand so you know exactly where you're headed. It takes about an hour to reach the top.
Once you reach the castle reward yourself with a brew or snack. There is a restaurant called Burgschänke that overlooks the small town. Yes, the castle may look like any other castle but it is the oldest in the Bergstrasse region, built in 1065. Walk to the top of one of the towers for an even more rewarding view.
Note: there is a place for parking close to the castle with just a small 10-15min walk. However I suggest walking and getting lost in the vineyard pathways to really soak in the views.