Cycling in the Hachenburg Westerwald

The center of the lake district is the Dreifelder Weiher, because it is the largest of the lakes, two kilometers long and up to 800 meters wide. Here I can swim and row, and I can also rent a pedal boat. With a little time, I go on the hiking trail with 16 display boards, on which a lot can be read about the nature and the people here. Afterwards I look for a nice place to rest and eat, for example the cozy café-restaurant "Haus am See". Another highlight of the region is the large adventure playground near Steinen-Dreifelden. This forest playground entices the offspring to play for hours: a nice reward after a third of the tour. There are numerous benches and a shelter, as well as a fireplace for barbecue lovers and, of course, playground equipment such as large slides, swings and more. The Freilingen miniature golf course is suitable for the whole family. It is located at the Postweiher and offers drinks and snacks in addition to twelve lanes. The village of Freilingen also has a lido at the Postweiher.

Ready for an adventure? Your circular tour begins in the enchanting town of Hachenburg. Right from the start, you'll enjoy a stunning panoramic view over the Nister valley. If you're up for it, take a short detour to the Cistercian Abbey of Marienstatt, home to one of Germany's oldest Gothic basilicas. After refueling, you'll continue through Streithausen and Luckenbach before conquering the ascent to Limbach. From a high plateau just above, the Kroppacher Schweiz offers an impressive panorama. Onward through charming villages, you'll catch marvelous glimpses extending all the way to the Siebengebirge range. Your journey leads to the Upper Wiedtal, one of the largest nature reserves, where you'll experience untouched wilderness. Soon, you'll reach the largest lake of the Westerwald Lakes Plateau, a haven for diverse wildlife and plants. Ascend the viewing tower on Gräbersberg for yet another panoramic view of the Westerwald. Then, head back to Hachenburg, where your exciting tour concludes.

With Hachenburg we choose one of the most beautiful towns in the Westerwald as a starting point and linger briefly on the old market with its dreamy half-timbered backdrop before we make our way south. Soon one of the many bathing opportunities that we will encounter along the WW1 awaits us near Maroth with its forest lake. Via Selters we continue through a landscape of fields and forests to Sessenbach, where a visit to the planetarium is highly recommended. In Höhr-Grenzhausen, the next highlight awaits us with the largest ceramics museum in Europe, before we enjoy the Weserwald in all its beauty on our journey through the almost paradisiacal area of the Nassau Nature Park. Our ride up to the Fuckskaute is going to be pretty sporty again. For this we are rewarded with a magnificent view from the highest elevation in the Westerwald. Shortly before Hachenburg we recover and cover the last kilometers.

I start with the ascent to the nearby Fuchskaute (657 meters) and enjoy the view. I can eat and drink something in the local inn. Then I start the tour towards Bad Marienberg. I look around the Kurpark and relax on the barefoot path and in the apothecary garden. Then I visit the interesting basalt park and take a detour to the Hedwig's Tower at the wildlife park. Here I am also rewarded with a wide view. I could also try the climbing garden, but I keep going because I want to visit the famous Stöffel Park with its many offers. I continue through Hachenburg, the "Pearl of the Westerwald", where I am enchanted by the market and the beautiful half-timbered houses. After a few kilometers I reach the Marienstatt monastery. The confluence of the Kleine Nister and the Große Nister follows at Heimborn-Ehrlich. Finally, I arrive in knowledge and explore the castle and the Heister Chapel, which is well worth seeing.

I'm standing at the Rotenhain train station and decide to pay a visit to the nearby Stöffel Park first. In this quarry adventure park, the world's first mouse was found with an age of 25 million years. Then it goes back and my next destination is the Wied spring in Linden. I follow the markings to the Dreifelder Weiher, the largest of the lakes in the Westerwald lake district, and enjoy the wonderful natural landscape of the Wiedaue on the tour. Near Altenkirchen I come across the 100-year-old Bismarck Tower, which can be visited on the first Sunday of every month. The Alvensleben tunnel then awaits in Burglahr. Ore was mined here until 1930, today it is open to visitors. The handicraft museum in Waldbreitbach, next to an oil mill, also arouses my curiosity. I can visit it on Saturdays and Sundays and take a coffee break in the rustic rooms. The further way leads me directly to Neuwied, where the Wied flows into the Rhine.

In knowledge, I already take the first break to look at Schönstein Castle. The Heister chapel, one of the oldest of its kind, and the Catholic parish church of the Elevation of the Cross, begun in the year 1000, are also worth a look. In Hachenburg I am greeted by the castle, which today is the Deutsche Bundesbank University. The gilded Sayn heraldic lion stands on the Alter Markt. The Stone House (today "Gasthaus zur Krone") is also worth seeing. It is worth walking a little around the beautiful place. On the Gräbersberg near Alpenrod I climb the lookout tower and have a meal in the serviced Alpenroder Hütte. The observation tower gives me wonderful views. A short time later I come across the Wiedquelle near Linden. We continue to Dreifelden and its pond of the same name. Here I swim a bit and then lie down on the lawn for a moment. When I come to Staudt later, there is another place to rest with a playground on the fairground.