A key date is certainly the period around 1800, when Duke Karl II August (1776-1786) was Bavarian crown pretender. It was during this time that the Karlsberg Residential Palace and its outbuildings were built. From a nature conservation point of view, the outbuildings in particular are important small biotope structures.
It was also Duke Karl II August who planted the sweet chestnut (Castanea sativa) - a species that has its natural habitat on the southern edge of the Alps - in Homburg and thus (because the sweet chestnut naturally rejuvenates in the area) created the basis for the "mixed stand rich in noble hardwood" on Karlsberg, which is so important today from a forestry point of view. The 200-250-year-old ducal chestnut trees, which are still preserved today and have been designated as a natural monument, bear witness to the great times of that time.
With its wonderful hiking trails, the Karlsberg Castle Forest Park offers every nature lover an unforgettable day out.
