Winzerausschank at the Sonnenberghütte Schweigen-Rechtenbach

The Sonnenberghütte at the Southern Palatinate Gate

The Sonnenberghütte is located directly above the German Wine Gate – the striking sandstone gate built in 1936 at the start of the German Wine Route. From here, the view extends over the southernmost Palatinate vineyard, the Schweigen Sonnenberg site, across to neighboring Alsace with the Wissembourg Valley and the Northern Vosges. The hut itself is a simple, rustic building with a spacious terrace and outdoor service.

Seasonal Operation with Rotating Hosts

From the beginning of May to the end of October, the hut is open on Sundays and public holidays. The special feature: the service rotates from one weekend to the next. Sometimes it's winemakers from the village, sometimes clubs, sometimes restaurateurs – each with their own wine selection, menu, and character. A schedule on the Schweigen-Rechtenbach municipality's website provides information about who is responsible each weekend.

Wine, Palatinate Specialties, and Cake

The hosts each set their own focus: Riesling, white and Pinot Noir, Gewürztraminer, Rosé, and Schoppenweine (local wine by the glass) from the Schweigen and Rechtenbach wineries. The menus feature classic Palatinate dishes – Saumagen (stuffed pig's stomach), Leberknödel (liver dumplings), Bratwurst (fried sausage), Wurstsalat (sausage salad), Flammkuchen (tarte flambée), Schinkenbrot (ham sandwich) – as well as homemade cakes and coffee specialties in the afternoon.

Hiking, Cycling, and Crossing Borders

The Sonnenberghütte is embedded in a dense network of marked hiking and cycling trails. Popular routes lead along the German Wine Gate, to the Madenburg, through the Schweigen Sonnenberg vineyard, or across the border to Wissembourg in Alsace. Many guests combine a visit to the hut with a hike or bike tour between the Palatinate Forest and the Vosges – a typical cross-border experience in the southern Bergzabern region.