ALTERNATIVE STARTING PLACE: Hilzhofen, center

The moderate length of the Kuppenalb loop offers the attractive opportunity to get to know the diversified landscape of the Kuppenalb with its special features. Apart from the visitors' parking lot at Habsberg you can also start your route at Hilzhofen or Unterwiesenacker.

With its 621 meters above sea level, the prominent hilltop of the Habsberg is the highest elevation on the 230 kilometers of the Jurasteig. From very far away you can recognize the pilgrimage church "Maria Heil der Kranken" (St. Mary, Helper of the Sick). Its pink church tower is the region's landmark, which rises above the wooded hill top. The hiker who starts his/her tour here is also recommended to visit the new ecological center "Haus am Habsberg“. It is situated at the foot of the hill and offers ecological education, examples of regional architecture and a typical rural farmer's garden (information: Haus am Habsberg, Nürnberger Str. 1, 92318 Neumarkt in der Oberpfalz, tel. 09181 / 470-382, www.hausamhabsberg.de).

South of the Habsberg, in the direction of Unterwiesenacker, the route leads to the Schanzberg through the unique landscape of the Kuppenalb, with its shallow fields full of limestone shards and rows of hedges. This rocky hill presents itself as one of the region's rare open mountains with grazing land and a unique botanical diversity. Carline thistle ("Silberdistel"), fringed and Chiltern gentian ("Fransen- und deutscher Enzian") thrive here on the poor alkaline grassland, as well as Carthusian pink carnation, pasqueflower ("Küchenschelle") and rock rose ("Sonnenröschen"). In the animal kingdom the red-backed shrike ("Neuntöter"), the sand lizard and the smooth snake ("Schlingnatter") have their habitat here on this beautiful hill with its juniper heath and exposed rock heads. The route leads through Unterwiesenacker and open landscape in the direction of Hilzhofen. There the local gastronomy invites you to a culinary specialty, the "Juradistl" lamb. The shepherds' traditional sheep tending on open grassland connects the preservation of nature with culinary delights. This fact is represented here with a metallic work of art, a "landscape framework". Please look out for inns with the logo of the "Juradistl" lamb and taste the landscape through a culinary delicacy!

You then walk past the Pfaffenberg and on the trail between the Raben- and the Eichelberg, until you reach the parking lot at the Habsberg after this circular hiking tour of about three hours.

Apart from Hilzhofen, there are inns in Unter- and Oberwiesenacker.