In an open and bright valley is Eußerthal, surrounded by meadows, mountains and rocks, in the Biosphere Reserve Palatinate Forest. Crystal-clear babbling brooks and pure forest air guarantee a high recreational value.
The origin of the place is a monastic foundation remains 1148. In the village center there is the impressive Cistercian church of St. Bernard, one of the most valuable constructions of the 13th century in the Palatinate. Monks of the Cistercian monastery were in the 12th and 13th centuries chaplain of the castle and guardians of the imperial regalia to the Trifels. Inside the church, the history can be traced very clearly on the basis of display boards. The area of the ancient monastery is shown within the monastery route. It also tells about life in the middle-ages in a monastery. Along a hiking path you follow the traces of the monks from the church up to the Trifels castle near Annweiler.
Eußerthal is an ideal starting point for many delightful walks to distinctive viewpoints and hidden Palatinate Forest huts like Böchinger Hütte or Siebeldinger Hütte. Or you can follow the "Pfälzer Weinsteig" to Dernbach/Ramberg or to Annweiler am Trifels. Who wants to enjoy complete tranquility, searches a place at one of the idyllic fishing ponds. Fresh trouts are a culinary speciality. You can try them and other specialities of the region in the restaurants of the village, the "Klosterstübl" and the "Birkenthaler Hof".
On the 3rd weekend in August the place organizes the Schälebrichelkerwe. These so-called Schälebrichel were the residual wood after peeling off oak bark for Lohegewinnung ( tanner commercial ) remained. As the trees were peeled quite young, there were hardly any strong trees around Eußerthal. So Schälebrichel is an insult or derogatory word for those who had no real forest with thick trees.
More informations about history you can find here.
