"Legendary" bike route on the Enz-Nagold plateau from Oberlengenhardt

We ride steeply downhill to the Lengenbach. Here at midnight one sometimes hears a eerie howl. Locals say that this is the restless spirit of the giant Erkinger, who out of rage over the bricked-up castle gate of his Liebenzell castle turned into an adorable little poodle and has since been causing mischief there. Once a stranger supposedly laughed mockingly about this legend in the Hirsch inn in Maisenbach. The regulars then sent him down to the valley at midnight with a full glass of beer. They had bet on a keg of beer if he could carry the glass full there and back. The stranger confidently set off. The locals rolled the keg into the tavern and sat expectantly at the regulars’ table. After about an hour, the man threw open the tavern door, chalk-white and trembling all over with fear. A huge black poodle had chased him with burning eyes and stinking fiery smoke from its ears and mouth, growling like a thousand angry tigers. He held the beer glass in his cramped fingers – without a drop of beer. The innkeeper had been waiting for this and cheerfully tapped beer after beer. But the stranger staggered to his room. So he didn't hear the rough jokes and laughter of the Maisenbachers until dawn. The next morning he supposedly left abruptly. But now onward, up the hill to Zainen, where you can enjoy the view towards Maisenbach from the Hüttle far across the land. Passing the biogas plant straight over the intersection and again down and up through the forest to Unterkollbach. The route we are now on is called "mountain and valley railway" by the local cyclists. The lovely Kollbach valley with its meadows, fruit trees, and old farms lies before us. We rush past to Oberkollbach. At the Gasthaus Adler at the top, we cross the intersection into the small lane past the church through the forest to Oberreichenbach. Here we cross the main road and ride the steep climb up to the bike path. Who manages without dismounting? The bike path leads us over the "Hirsch roundabout" at the edge of the forest further to the junction to Weltenschwann. Now we enjoy the wonderful descent along the Rötelbach. Meadows, lovingly designed gardens and the beautiful Northern Black Forest buildings with their red foundations of massive sandstone blocks and the color-painted spruce shingles stretch out on both sides. These shingles are round at the bottom and are still partially handcrafted here on the Enz-Nagold plateau, because hand-split shingles last longer. Also typical are the small bakehouses, formerly each farm had its own. We pass the handsome old schoolhouse between Weltenschwann and Speßhardt, glide down through Speßhardt. At the bridge below Speßhardt we have to be careful, because an invisible ghost lives under the bridge, who has often slapped travelers. Normally it only appears at night under its bridge. During the day it sometimes flies out as a butterfly when curious fast cyclists approach. It would gladly try such a two-wheeler, so watch out, cyclists! Onwards to Sommenhardt with a wide view of Heumaden and Stammheim. In the lower part of Sommenhardt we can admire old tools at the antique barn. If the town hall bell of Sommenhardt rings, we should listen carefully. It can foretell the future. If it rings sadly, something bad will happen. If it rings happily, we can look forward to something nice. Onwards uphill towards Zavelstein through a row of old cider pears (in late summer you ride here through pear mush with wasps) and further to the newly built school of Zavelstein. Who wants can now take a detour into the town: castle, church, old smithy, lovely old half-timbered houses, fountain systems and pottery can be seen and use the toilet in the old town hall. It is definitely worth it. Onwards past the popular peace forest over to Rötenbach, just a few meters over the main road uphill and then immediately right to Emberg. Watch out: free-range chickens! It's uphill - yes! But once up there you overlook a great race track to Emberg. Who will be first? Behind the first house of Emberg we turn right into the forest and keep to the small road towards Schmieh. The road winds through quiet, large forests. In Schmieh we can again enjoy the view of Zavelstein castle before taking the small road into the forest at the village entrance. Once in this forest was the village Oberwürzbach, which was only recently rediscovered – well, stone walls, worked stones, remains of paths... Now it is so lonely here that on some days the capercaillies mate right in the middle of the road. At night you have to be careful here because the "Schorchenangelse" haunts the forest. It jumps onto the neck of night cyclists, clings tightly and sings eerie lament songs. Once there was a girl from Rötenbach who was seduced by a knight while picking blueberries. Naturally, he solemnly promised to marry her, as knights do when they feel beautiful girls. The knight did not keep his promise, although the maiden became pregnant. Therefore he was shot by the girl's brother in an adventurous action. Afterwards the girl became so gloomy that she hanged herself in the forest and now must haunt forever. There was also once a shepherd in this forest with his herd. In the evening he missed a cow and desperately went searching. Then he heard mooing below the ground. He sneaked closer and looked through a deep hole into an ancient cellar vault. Inside the cow staggered around and occasionally drank from an old cider barrel, which it had probably damaged with its horns during the collapse. The shepherd had a hard time clearing the old cellar entrance and bringing the wildly dancing, completely drunk cow back to the village. Then he sneaked back to the cider barrel... The small road crosses the Weinsträßle, a gravel path. Shortly after we turn at the blue diamond onto the gravel path towards Würzbach. Würzbach may not have wide views, but in Würzbach there are many beautiful things to occupy the eye. We ride all the way through. At the village end we turn to the sports field, ride the straight, wide gravel path to the sports field of Oberreichenbach and then on the bike path towards Siehdichfür. The name Siehdichfür is quite simple to explain. Once a servant of the Count of Calw is said to have watched in amazement during a bear hunt how the count after a wild ride through the cold wind over the Igelsloch height used a handkerchief. The servant had never seen anything like it and wanted to try it too. The count agreed to lend him the handkerchief, but thought the lad was somewhat cheeky and gave it to him with the words: "Lad, watch out!" Already in the big right curve before Siehdichfür we take the path through the ditch to the other side of the road and follow the yellow diamond to Igelsloch - Cafe Kienle. There at the corner we ride slightly uphill on the grass path across the wide fields. Here once a farmer plowed his field. Stones kept coming up, which he dragged to the border and piled up into a wall. It slowly became too much for him and he cried out: "Oh, if only someone would steal the stones for me! I would give them a piece of cake." The next day when he wanted to continue plowing, all stones were already neatly piled on the border wall. The farmer remembered his outcry, went home, got a large piece of Igelsloch quark cake and placed it on the border wall. Then he hid because he was too curious who had done the work. He did not have to wait long. Cute little men crawled out of the stone wall who cautiously approached the cake. At first they only carefully tried with their fingers. Then they broke off bigger pieces and chewed very enthusiastically - the good Igelsloch quark cake is still world-famous and attracts many visitors. The little men were so enthusiastic that from then on they always worked for the farmer. His wife baked them a good cake every day according to the Igelsloch secret recipe and everyone was happy. At the forest top turn right to the old forestry tree nursery, then over the Lancester intersection and the Schwann hut through the forest back to Oberlengenhardt.

Tak

A normal touring bike is sufficient. With an e-bike it is naturally easier. Repair kit and air pump are advisable.