Laurahütte, Jagdhütte im nördlichen Pfälzerwald
Laurahütte is a small forest shelter near Leistadt built at 370 meters elevation with a simple design featuring three stone pillars at the entrance forming a hall-like structure. The building serves hikers as a resting point and sits along a hiking trail offering views toward the nearby lowlands.
Wilhelm Retzer, a pensioner from Freinsheim, built the shelter in 1845 as a resting place for forest visitors. After his death in 1856, about thirty citizens from Leistadt took over its management, and around 1875 the Drachenfels Club assumed responsibility for preserving the site.
The hut is named after Laura Retzer, the wife of founder Wilhelm Retzer, reflecting the personal story behind this modest structure. It has served as a gathering point for forest visitors for nearly two centuries, keeping alive the region's tradition of woodland use and simple hospitality.
The shelter is accessible to visitors at all times and located along a marked hiking trail called Sieben Waldwunder. Hiking maps are available at Bad Duerkheim Tourist Information, which helps visitors plan their walk through the area.
Next to the shelter stands a stone bench called the Lover's Bench, which offers clear views across the Rhine Plain. This bench has become a favored photo spot and resting point for hikers seeking wide vistas and peaceful surroundings.
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