A storybook walk on Weinheim’s Grüffelo trail

Visitor information checked: 26 September 2026. Trail conditions and guided-tour details can change; check the city’s page before your visit.

The character sculpture makes a lovely photo, but Der Grüffelo-Pfad is more fun as a little search along the hillside. A yellow wooden mouse waits beside the path, and more figures appear as you climb. With children, you can stop, look for the next sculpture, then keep going when everyone’s ready.

Wooden story character and information panel on Weinheim’s Grüffelo trail — A story character on the trail. Photo: Frankfurtly.de.

Follow the characters uphill

Weinheim’s trail opened in 2022. The city describes a route of about 600 metres on the way towards Burgruine Windeck, starting at Schlossberg. Sculptor Gert Hildebrandt carved its figures from Odenwald oak. Along the route are the mouse, fox, squirrel, owl, snake, the Grüffelo’s Child and the Grüffelo; each stop has an information board and a riddle. You can let the children spot the characters in their own time rather than race to the end. Weinheim city trail guide

Yellow wooden mouse sculpture on the Grüffelo trail — The little mouse along the path. Photo: FrankForward.de.

The next figures keep the story going as you climb.

Wooden fox sculpture beside a story panel on the Grüffelo trail — Another familiar face along the trail. Photo: FrankForward.de.

The beginning is steep. The city’s description says the path can be used with a stroller or wheelchair, but that doesn’t make the ascent effortless. Allow extra time, especially with little ones, and judge the ground and weather for your own group. The 600 metres describe the trail towards the castle ruins, so remember to allow for the way back as well. Use the official route map to find the start and plan your walk.

Leave room for Weinheim’s view

Part of the fun is looking beyond the next wooden figure. From the hillside, the rooftops of Weinheim spread out below. We would leave a little breathing room in the day for the view, rather than treating the sculptures as a checklist.

View over Weinheim from the hillside near the Grüffelo trail — A view over Weinheim from the hillside. Photo: FrankForward.de.

Planning a visit from Frankfurt

Set Schlossberg, Weinheim as your starting point and use the city map to find the trail entrance. If you travel by train, plan a connection to Weinheim (Bergstraße) and check the local leg to Schlossberg for your date. For a family outing, comfortable shoes, water and time for pauses will matter more than a tightly timed itinerary.

The city also advertises guided Grüffelo walks, with their own dates and advance registration. Those are separate from following the marked trail on your own; don’t mistake a guided-tour booking for a requirement to walk the path. Check the city’s current information if you want to join a tour.

Our suggestion: Let the mouse start the game. Ask everyone to guess which character comes next, and take your time on the climb.