Lahn hiking trail
Lahn hiking trail 
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|---|---|
 Signs of the Lanwanderweg |
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| Data | |
| length | 295 km |
| location | North Rhine-Westphalia , Hesse , Rhineland-Palatinate |
| Markers | dark red stylized LW on a white background |
| Starting point | Lahn spring at Netphen 50 ° 53 ′ 32 ″ N , 8 ° 14 ′ 30 ″ E |
| Target point |
Lahnstein 50 ° 18 ′ 14 ″ N , 7 ° 36 ′ 16 ″ E |
| Type | Long-distance hiking trail |
| Level of difficulty | light |
| season | all year round |
| particularities |
Quality hiking trail  |
Map with all coordinates: The Lahnwanderweg is a 295 km long hiking trail in the Lahn valley , which leads from the source of the river near Netphen via Marburg , Gießen , Wetzlar , Weilburg , Limburg and Bad Ems to Lahnstein on the Rhine . The Lahnwanderweg is thus the connection between the Rothaarsteig in North Rhine-Westphalia and the Rheinsteig in Rhineland-Palatinate .
Brief description
The Lahn hiking trail begins in Siegerland and follows from the source of the source stream of the Lahn to Bad Laasphe . Behind the state border with Hesse , the Lahnwanderweg leads into the Lahn-Dill-Bergland and then heads for Marburg . It leads through the Krofdorfer Forest to Wetzlar . From Wetzlar, the Lahn separates the Taunus from the Westerwald . The Lahnwanderweg leads westwards alternately to the left and right of the river and passes Braunfels , Weilburg and Limburg an der Lahn . Behind Limburg, the Lahn hiking trail reaches Rhineland-Palatinate and leads via Diez to Nassau . The next destination is Bad Ems , before it goes through the Ruppertsklamm to Lahnstein where the Lahn flows into the Rhine . Almost all stages begin and end at train stations.
The Celtic-Roman path (between Waldgirmes and Gießen), the access path between Krofdorf-Gleiberg and Gießen and the miner's route as an alternative route from Wetzlar to Braunfels are suggested as secondary routes . Provided they have their own hiking trail predicates, these are marketed under the name Lahn-Facetten.
Along the route are among other things worth seeing:
- Lahn spring
- Wittgenstein Castle
- Rimberg Tower
- Weissenstein Castle
- Old town of Marburg
- Vetzberg Castle
- Gleiberg Castle
- Braunfels Castle
- Weilburg Wildlife Park
- Kubach crystal cave
- Lahn marble museum Villmar
- Runkel Castle
- Old town of Limburg an der Lahn with cathedral
- Old town and castle in Diez
- Laurenburg colliery
- Steinsche Castle near Nassau
- Ruppertsklamm near Lahnstein
history
Tourist hiking along the Lahn has a long history. The tour of the young Johann Wolfgang von Goethe on September 11, 1772 from Wetzlar to Ems is just the best-known example. In the early 19th century, various accompanying routes to the Lahn were laid out, mostly as high-altitude trails over elevations away from the actual course of the river. Since the 1980s, the municipalities and districts have been trying to promote gentle tourism on and on the river, initially with an emphasis on paddle tourism and cycling, but increasingly with a view to hikers. As a result of these efforts, various existing routes have been revised, connected and signposted. In 1994 this path system was officially inaugurated as the Lahnhöhenweg.
In 2002 the Lahntal Tourism Association was founded, to which numerous municipalities and tourism associations in the region belong. As part of the association, the idea arose to create a hiking route that should better correspond to the ideas of hiking tourism that have since changed. In particular, the new hiking trail should bring you closer to cultural sights and interesting natural areas in order to offer as much variety as possible, and run as little as possible over paved routes, even if this should lead to a greater distance from the river bank and steeper inclines in places. Another guiding principle behind the redesign was the best possible connection to local public transport and better signage. Overall, the quality criteria that various actors had set up for certification in previous years should be met. The hiking and mountain associations that are active in the Lahn valley were also included in the development of the Lahn hiking trail: Sauerland mountain association , Upper Hessian mountain association , Vogelsberger Höhen-Club , Taunusklub and Westerwaldverein .
After several years of preparation, especially with a view to forest law and environmental protection, the first section of the Lahn hiking trail on the Unterlauf was opened in 2010, there in a few parts on the old route of the Lahnhöhenweg. It was fully opened in 2012. In January 2013, the Lahnwanderweg was awarded the title Quality Trail Wanderable Germany by the German Hiking Association .
course
| stage | begin | target | Distance (km) |
Walking time (h) |
difficulty |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lahn spring | Feudingen | 14.3 | 4.5 | medium |
| 2 | Feudingen | Bad Laasphe | 16.8 | 5 | medium |
| 3 | Bad Laasphe | Biedenkopf | 17.5 | 5.5 | medium |
| 4th | Biedenkopf | Buchenau | 12.5 | 3.5 | light |
| 5 | Buchenau | Calder | 13.3 | 4th | medium |
| 6th | Calder | Marburg | 15.9 | 5 | medium |
| 7th | Marburg | Fronhausen | 24.5 | 7.5 | heavy |
| 8th | Fronhausen | Lollar | 11.9 | 3.5 | light |
| 9 | Lollar | Rodheim-Bieber | 21.4 | 7th | medium |
| 10 | Rodheim-Bieber | Wetzlar | 16.4 | 4.5 | medium |
| 11 | Wetzlar | Braunfels | 13.0 | 4th | light |
| 12 | Braunfels | Weilburg | 18.1 | 6th | medium |
| 13 | Weilburg | Aumenau | 19.4 | 6.5 | medium |
| 14th | Aumenau | Villmar | 12.7 | 4th | light |
| 15th | Villmar | Limburg | 13.5 | 4.5 | medium |
| 16 | Limburg | Balduinstein | 13.8 | 4.5 | medium |
| 17th | Balduinstein | Obernhof | 19.3 | 6.5 | heavy |
| 18th | Obernhof | Bad Ems | 19.5 | 7th | heavy |
| 19th | Bad Ems | Niederlahnstein | 16.4 | 5 | medium |
The division into 19 stages should allow the hiking experience to be as flexible as possible. As a variant, the Lahntal Tourism Association suggests tackling each individual stage as a day tour and tackling the entire route in three weeks with six or seven days of walking. As an alternative, the path can also be tackled in six long hiking weekends, each with three or four day stages: Lahnquelle to Biedenkopf, Biedenkopf to Marburg, Marburg to Gießen, Gießen to Weilburg, Weilburg to Balduinstein and Balduinstein to Lahnstein. Another variant results from the division of the penultimate, with 22 kilometers longest stage from Obernhof / Weinähr to Badems into two day routes with an overnight stay in Laurenburg.
In the detailed planning of the daily stages, the good transport connections required in the initial concept were implemented: 18 of the 19 stages end at train stations and one at a bus stop. The path is marked in both directions, both upstream and downstream. Both stage descriptions can also be found in various tour planners.
The Lahnwanderweg is marked on its route by waymarks with the stylized letters "LW" in dark red on a white background.
Circular routes (in selection):
| Surname | begin | target | Distance (km) |
Walking time (h) |
difficulty | mark |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Celtic-Roman path | Waldgirmes | to water | 38.2 | 11 | light | Dark red "KR" on a white background in the font style of the main marking |
| Access pouring | to water | Krofdorf-Gleiberg | 7.2 | 2 | light | The main path is marked on a yellow background |
| Miners Route | Wetzlar | Wetzlar | 26.4 | 10 | light | Stylized mallets and irons in black |
Circular routes (in selection)
The Lahnwanderweg has several access routes (for example to Gießen) and is also embedded in a network of circular routes. Those circular hiking trails that have been awarded a trail rating are called "Lahn facets" in the Lahn valley.
Celtic-Roman path
- Distance: 38.2 km
- Walking time: 11 hours
- Difficulty: easy
| Place / sight | Distance (km) |
Height (m above sea level ) |
Further information |
|---|---|---|---|
| Beginning of Waldgirmes | 0 | Roman Forum | |
| End of day stage 1 | 9.9 | 195 | Rodheim-Bieber station |
| End of day stage 2 | 23.1 | Fellingshausen town center | |
| End of day stage 3 | 38.2 | Giessen railway station |
description
The Celtic-Roman Trail, managed by the district of Gießen , is designed for three day stages and deals with the ancient history of the region.
The starting point is the Roman Forum in Waldgirmes. Shortly afterwards, the path follows an educational forest trail to a refuge at the Frauenkreuz, and then continues on the Lahn hiking trail to the end of the first day's stage in Rodheim-Bieber.
The second stage goes from Rodheim-Bieber back on the Lahn hiking trail, before turning right at a high reservoir. The route crosses the Dünsberggraben and climbs up to the Dünsberg past the Reh-, Stein-, Stroh- and Obermühle . This highest mountain in the region was a Celtic settlement , the three ring walls of which can still be seen today. There is a resting place with benches for hikers. Past a reconstructed Keltenhof at the foot of the mountain, the stage leads to its destination in the center of Fellingshausen.
The last stage initially runs back to Fellingshausen on the way of the previous stage and turns into a dense forest area at the dead oak. After the Vetzberg castle ruins, the path turns into the open field marking. At the ruins, the secondary route briefly coincides with the main route of the Lahnwanderweg, but leaves it again on the southern edge of Krofdorf-Gleiberg. From here on, the Celtic-Roman path runs over the Gießen approach to the main path
Miners Route
See main article Miners Route
- Distance: 26.4 km
- Walking time: 10 hours
- Difficulty: easy
This branch line focuses on the mining tradition in the Lahn-Dill region. From the Wetzlar train station, the first marking can be found in Lahnstraße. From there, the path leads directly along the banks of the Lahn out of the city to the Dalheim district . The subsequent ascent allows some panoramic views of the landscape. Shortly afterwards, the former Altenberg monastery and the Grube Fortuna visitor mine are ideal destinations. The pit has an above-ground mining educational trail.
Shortly behind the pit there is the "Karls-Ruhe" rest area at the Schäferburg. The path leads on the outskirts of Niederbiel and finally on the last section along the federal road 49 to Leun . There it goes past the train station out of town and through dense beech forest uphill to Braunfels. Braunfels Castle can be reached through the castle park, where the miners route joins the Lahn hiking trail again.
High altitude air
- Distance: 10.4 km
- Walking time: just under 4 hours
- Difficulty: medium
This Lahn facet begins and ends in the spa area of Bad Ems, at the intersection of Römerstrasse and Grabenstrasse directly on the banks of the Lahn. Via Grabenstrasse, Pfahlgraben and Ernst-Vogler-Weg, you overcome the ascent into the wooded slopes of the valley above the spa town, sometimes in serpentines. The route leads directly past the defiant Bismarck Tower , which cannot be climbed but has a restaurant. After a few hundred meters through a residential area on Otto-Balzer-Straße, there is a section on the Dr.-Waldemar-Kühnel-Promenade and the Bismarck-Promenade, which partly runs along the edge of the Bismarckhöhe spa park. Then she dives into the dense mixed forests of the Lahnhöhe, passes the remains of a Roman Limestower and the hill spur of the Hohen Bann, before turning back to the descent on the southern outskirts of Kemmenau. Past the Rahmberg and the Odenbach weekend settlement, there is another, smaller ascent to the Concordia tower with viewing platforms and a restaurant. From there it is only a short descent to the starting point.
Day tours / stages
1st stage: Lahnquelle - Feudingen
- Distance: 14.3 km
- Walking time: 4.5 hours
- Difficulty: medium
| Place / sight | Distance (km) |
Height (m above sea level ) |
Further information |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lahn spring | 0 | 607 | Bus stop |
| Parking lot for hikers | 0.6 | 608 | The refuge and memorial are 200 meters below |
| Fairy tale trail "Little Redhead" | 3.4 | 657 | Away with fairy tale characters, partly congruent |
| Ilsequelle | 4.0 | 614 | Benches and tables to rest |
| Heiligenborn | 5.2 | 604 | Bus stop |
| Parking lot for hikers | 5.7 | 625 | |
| Lookout above Feudingen | 11.8 | 490 | |
| End of the stage in Feudingen | 14.3 | 392 | "Zum Eichholz" and Sieg-Lahn-Straße lead to the train station. |
description
The Lahn hiking trail begins at the source pond of the Lahn in Netphen-Nenkersdorf . Here it runs partially congruent with the Rothaarsteig for the first few kilometers . From the forester's lodge near the source of the Lahn there is a short section uphill along the Lahnhof road, immediately right after the Lahnhof hotel and then left again shortly afterwards. The path leads to the hikers' car park, which is also suitable for those arriving by car, and there crosses state road 722.
Here the path dips into the forest, which is part of the Rothaargebirge , and meanders alongside the narrow iron road for a while. After crossing it, the Lahn hiking trail turns left onto a wide forest path and follows it gently downhill to the vicinity of the Ilsequelle , one of the most famous medicinal springs in Europe from the Middle Ages to the 17th century. There, the path shares the route for a while with the Kleiner Rothaar fairy tale hiking trail , which is accompanied by imaginative characters.
A hiking lounger and tables invite you to rest on the Ilsequelle. Several crossings of the Ilse and its tributaries are possible with wooden floorboards and a bridge. Uphill and past a grill hut, it goes through the small hamlet of Heiligenborn and past another hiking car park in the direction of Feudingen . The path leads downhill again and through dense forest.
Shortly before the end of the stage in Feudingen , the landscape opens up again to a panoramic view at a rest area. The street "Zum Eichholz" leads to the end of the stage at the corner of the street "Im Kalterbach". The town center with a train station on the Kreuztal – Cölbe railway line is on the left.
2nd stage: Feudingen - Bad Laasphe
- Distance: 16.8 km
- Walking time: 5 hours
- Difficulty: medium
| Place / sight | Distance (km) |
Height (m above sea level ) |
Further information |
|---|---|---|---|
| Start of the stage in Feudingen | 0 | 392 | "Zum Eichholz" and Sieg-Lahn-Straße lead to the train station |
| Weidelbacher Weiher | 3.3 | 503 | Resting place |
| Großgemeindestein | 7.8 | 525 | |
| Wahlbach Mill | 10.6 | 364 | Lahn crossing |
| Saßmannshausen town center | 11.5 | 367 | Signpost, bus stop |
| Wittgenstein Castle | 15.0 | 465 | Castle café |
| End of the stage in Bad Laasphe | 16.8 | 322 | To the train station about 650 meters along Bahnhofstrasse |
description
Immediately after the start of the stage, there is a first ascent towards the southwest from Feudingen towards the Bettelmannsbuche. Today there is a refuge on the site of the tree that fell victim to a hurricane in 1976 and had shaped the landscape until then, but about 100 meters to the right away from the Lahn hiking trail. Shortly before the junction to the refuge, the first uphill stretch has been mastered.
The Weidelbacher Weiher with a rest area is located directly on the path on the following downhill stretch. The route follows the Weidelbach and Ilsetal valleys further downstream. At the junction to the Großgemeindestein, the Lahn hiking trail leaves the valley and you have to climb again. The large community stone to be passed shortly thereafter is a comparatively young cultural monument: a memorial stone for the founding of the large community Bad Laasphe in 1976, which is the geographic center of the community. For the hiker, the second clear climb of this stage ends at this point and two shelters are available at the monument. Now only a moderate ascent is necessary until it goes back down into the Lahn valley.
At the Wahlbachmühle the path crosses the Lahn and then turns right onto the country road to Saßmannshausen. The federal road 62 can be safely crossed in the village . This is followed by a long but rarely steep ascent to the heights on the left side of the river. Passing a large cemetery, it goes over the ridge to Wittgenstein Castle. The landmark of the region has a café that is not always open. The hiker enters Bad Laasphe over a gentle slope and past the historic cemetery. Via the Max-Präger-Weg, Schloßstraße and Königstraße you can reach the end of the stage directly at Wilhelmsplatz and at the local tourist information office, the "Haus des Gastes".
3rd stage: Bad Laasphe - Biedenkopf
- Distance: 17.7 km
- Walking time: 5.5 hours
- Difficulty: medium
| Place / sight | Distance (km) |
Height (m above sea level ) |
Further information |
|---|---|---|---|
| Start of the stage in Bad Laasphe | 0 | 322 | |
| Hugo Kracht Hut | 2.4 | 481 | Rest area, lookout point |
| Entenberg summit hut | 3.1 | 517 | Rest area, summit book |
| Perf reservoir | 5.4 | 400 | Hikers' car park, gastronomy, swimming area |
| Bar joiner | 11.1 | 467 | Refuge |
| Columbus Temple | 16.0 | 331 | Lookout point |
| End of the stage Biedenkopf | 17.5 | 272 | Immediately at the train station |
description
It is one of the stages with the greatest height differences of the entire route. The route starts with an uphill stretch from the "Haus des Gastes" along the edge of the Bad Laasphe spa park. The Hugo Kracht Hut is ideal for a first breather . It is named after the traveling literature author and co-founder of the German Youth Hostel Association, who died in Bad Laasphe in 1953. The hut offers an impressive view of the city and the surrounding area. The ascent stage is not yet over there. It leads just under another kilometer, partly through reforestation areas as a result of the hurricane "Kyrill" , to the summit of the Entenberg. There is a summit book in a box on a tree in which hikers can enter themselves.
This is followed by a downhill tour into the Biedenkopfer district of Breidenstein . There the Perfstausee with its offers as a local recreation area is the next port of call. The reservoir, which was only created in 1984 after a flood, is also remarkable for its diverse bird life. The rest at the lake is followed by a stage with long but generally tolerable inclines, over which the Lahn hiking trail stretches in serpentines in parts. In this area begins the historical region known as the Hessian Hinterland . The highest point is reached shortly after the "Standischler" refuge. Now it's back downhill again to the Lahn. Shortly before the outskirts of Biedenkopf, the pagoda-like Temple of Columbus invites you to enjoy a panoramic view. Now there are a few last serpentines before it goes over a hikers' car park on the federal road 62, a Lahn bridge and the Bachgrundstraße to the Biedenkopf train station , where this stage ends.
4th stage: Biedenkopf - Buchenau
- Distance: 12.5 km
- Walking time: 3.5 hours
- Difficulty: easy
| Place / sight | Distance (km) |
Height (m above sea level ) |
Further information |
|---|---|---|---|
| Beginning of the Biedenkopf stage | 0 | 272 | |
| Lippershardt | 2.0 | 368 | Refuge |
| At the red stone | 3.8 | 327 | Parking lot for hikers |
| Landgrave beech | 6.6 | 463 | Natural monument |
| Katzenbach | 7.4 | 376 | refreshment possibility |
| Wolf harness | 9.9 | 328 | |
| End of the stage in Buchenau | 12.5 | 233 | Immediately at the train station |
description
The route initially leads along the "Lahnweg" road along the railway tracks, and then after a sharp bend to the left, leads to the "Im Frauental" road in the direction of the forest. After a hairpin bend, hikers leave the urban area and move past a cemetery around the foot of the Frauenberg and steadily uphill. Here the hiking route "Lahnextratour" runs congruently for a while. The first protected resting place is at the Lippershardt rest area with its hut. The now largely flat route follows the edge of the forest to the "Am Roten Stein" car park for hikers.
After crossing the Mußbach, the steepest stretch of the stage is ahead. Through dense forest it goes around the elevations Rahmbusch and Schwanert. To the north-east of the Schwanert stands the Landgrave beech , an imposing 28-meter-high red beech . The next striking stop is the tiny town of Katzenbach , with around a dozen houses , which still offers an inn as a stopover. The path now roughly follows the Katzenbachtal to Buchenau. Shortly before the end of the stage follows, "Wolfsgeschirr" is marked at the crossroads as the place where the last wolf in the region was killed in 1747. In Buchenau, the path crosses the Lahn again and ends at the local train station.
5th stage: Buchenau - Caldern
- Distance: 13.3 km
- Walking time: 4 hours
- Difficulty: medium
| Place / sight | Distance (km) |
Height (m above sea level ) |
Further information |
|---|---|---|---|
| Beginning of the Buchenau stage | 0 | 233 | |
| Fairground | 0.7 | 262 | Refuge |
| Hohenfels castle ruins | 2.7 | 387 | Information boards about history |
| Ponds | 4.5 | 267 | Resting place |
| Rimberg hiking car park | 8.4 | 405 | Panorama point |
| Rimberg Tower | 9.3 | 476 | Observation tower |
| Panorama point Caldern | 12.1 | 267 | Immediately at the train station |
| End of the stage in Caldern | 13.3 | 234 | Immediately at the train station |
description
This route leads to several hills with a good view that extends over the very open landscape to the Taunus. Nevertheless, it is a hilly country with comparatively moderate hills compared to the Rothaargebirge. From Buchenau train station it goes past the fairground with its old village smithy and several disused quarries and iron ore mines to the Hohenfels castle ruins, of which only very few remains of the wall remain. Information boards provide information about the history of the castle and the once influential noble family that descended from it. This is followed by a descent into a valley, the lowest point of which is marked by a few ponds.
Then it goes back up the hill in a long loop. The Rimberg hiking car park is located on a saddle . A short ascent later, the Rimbergturm invites you to enjoy a panoramic view. A lookout tower was built at this special place in 1900 and rebuilt in 1997 after storm damage. Then it goes gently downhill again through the forest. Shortly before Caldern, another panorama point provides a view of the town and its surroundings. The stage ends near the community center, where a bus stop is available. It's another two-kilometer walk over the Lahn bridge to the local train station.
6th stage: Caldern - Marburg
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- Distance: 15.9 km
- Walking time: 5 hours
- Difficulty: medium
| Place / sight | Distance (km) |
Height (m above sea level ) |
Further information |
|---|---|---|---|
| Start of the stage in Caldern | 0 | 234 | |
| Lahn bridge Caldern | 0.8 | 214 | |
| Lahn Bridge Sterzhausen | 4.4 | 204 | |
| Wind turbines | 7.6 | 296 | Resting place |
| Branch to Weißenstein Castle | 9.4 | 234 | Castle ruins |
| Marienhäuschen | 13.2 | 317 | chapel |
| mausoleum | 14.4 | 332 | |
| End of the stage in Marburg | 15.9 | 191 | Right next to the Elisabeth Church |
description
This section of the route runs much closer to the banks of the Lahn, so that impressions of the river landscape replace the forest atmosphere of the previous stages.
Strictly speaking, the stage begins in the center of Caldern. If you arrive by train, you can turn left from the train station in front of the Lahn bridge. You go through the Lahnknie nature reserve along the river. The distinctive fortified tower of the Sterzhausen church is the first stopover. In the village, take Sterzenbacher Strasse to the level crossing, but before it go right along the railroad tracks and over the Lahn bridge at the sports field back to the right side of the Lahn. This is followed by two somewhat demanding climbs, which are, however, sweetened by rewarding viewpoints. Two wind turbines serve as orientation points here. Shortly behind you, the path zigzags back into the Lahn valley. A little off the path is Weißenstein Castle, before the path reaches the Marburg district of Wehrda .
Along the outskirts, but mostly within the forest, uphill and downhill sections alternate. Towards the small chapel of the Marienhäusen it becomes steep again and the path leads partly over stairs. The next striking point, the mausoleum of Emil von Behring , the first Nobel Prize in Medicine, is already on the long descent back down into the Lahn valley. The path leads directly out of the forest into the Marburg city area and the stage ends directly at the Elisabeth Church, the most important church building in the region.
7th stage: Marburg - Fronhausen
- Distance: 24.5 km
- Walking time: 7.5 hours
- Difficulty: hard
| Place / sight | Distance (km) |
Height (m above sea level ) |
Further information |
|---|---|---|---|
| Start of the stage in Marburg | 0 | 191 | Right next to the Elisabeth Church |
| Marburg Castle | 0.8 | 270 | Most important sight in Marburg |
| Rose nature trail | 4.8 | 330 | |
| Ockershausen rest area | 6.4 | 290 | |
| Oberweimar rest area | 11.5 | 219 | |
| Oberwalgern town center | 20.2 | 254 | Worth seeing half-timbered place |
| End of the stage in Fronhausen | 24.5 | 167 | Immediately at the train station |
description
With almost 25 kilometers and an altitude difference of 650 meters, it is the most demanding stage of the entire Lahn hiking trail. At the beginning there is the ascent from the Elisabeth Church to the Marburg Castle. The path leads out of the city through the castle park and villa district. A first forest stage follows around the Dammelsberg before a short stretch through the Marburg main cemetery. Through hedgerows and pastures, the hike reaches the wild rose nature trail near Ockershausen, which runs along the Lahn hiking trail here. 50 species of Wilrose can be seen there. Information boards offer additional information.
A rest area near Ockershausen invites you to linger before the longest forest section of the stage begins. At the transition to the field markings of Oberweimar, the path reaches a lookout point and a little later a rest area, after which it briefly leads through the town center and gently climbs to the half-timbered village of Oberwalgern. The route finally leads in a wide arc through fields, forest and Fronhausen, which is also characterized by numerous half-timbered buildings, to the local train station.
8th stage: Fronhausen - Lollar
- Distance: 11.9 km
- Walking time: 3.5 hours
- Difficulty: easy
| Place / sight | Distance (km) |
Height (m above sea level ) |
Further information |
|---|---|---|---|
| Beginning of the Fronhausen stage | 0 | 167 | Immediately at the train station |
| Confluence with the main path | 2.6 | 257 | |
| Smelting mill | 3.5 | 187 | Inn |
| Schönemühle | 5.4 | 182 | Coffee shop |
| Altenberg | 7.8 | 274 | Resting place |
| Lahn Bridge Lollar | 11.2 | 172 | |
| End of the stage lollar | 11.9 | 165 | Immediately at the train station |
description
The way from Fronhausen train station via Bahnhofstrasse, Rathausstrasse and Pfingststrasse and uphill through the forest is signposted as an access route. The main path is reached after a short, demanding climb. From there it goes down again into the brook valley of the salt flats . The path meets the stream at the small Schmelz area. There, the restaurant in the historic smelting mill is ideal for a stop. Along the salt flats, the hiking trail also follows the north-eastern edge of the extensive Krofdorf Forest .
At the place of Salzböde there is the next stop at Café Schönemühle. The path follows the outskirts and then crosses the stream of the same name. This is followed by another ascent to Altenberg, which is followed by the descent back into the Lahn valley. There are several bird shelters on the hiking route. On the outskirts of Ruttershausen there is a bridge over the Lahn. Turn right along Marburger Straße to Lollar train station , where the stage ends.
9th stage: Lollar - Rodheim-Bieber
- Distance: 21.4 km
- Walking time: 7 hours
- Difficulty: medium
| Place / sight | Distance (km) |
Height (m above sea level ) |
Further information |
|---|---|---|---|
| Start of the stage Lollar | 0 | 165 | Immediately at the train station |
| Confluence with the main path | 3.7 | 256 | |
| Wißmarbachtal | 7.4 | 236 | |
| Fish ponds | 8.9 | 198 | Crossing over the Wißmarbach |
| Information board | 13.4 | 227 | At the same time a lookout point |
| Confluence with the approach Gießen | 15.7 | 227 | |
| Gleiberg Castle | 16.4 | 247 | Observation tower |
| Confluence of the Celtic-Roman path | 17.5 | 208 | |
| Vetzberg Castle | 18.8 | 238 | |
| End of the stage Rodheim-Bieber | 21.4 | 195 | Immediately at the train station |
description
The stage leads through parts of the Krofdorfer Forest, one of the largest closed forest areas in the region. From Lollar, the approach that corresponds exactly to the end of the previous stage returns to the ridge above the Lahn valley. Another ascent through the dense forest has to be overcome before the descent into the Wißmarbachtal follows. Also along the stream it goes steadily down the slope until the path changes the stream side at a pond.
There follows a moderate ascent, in the course of which the distant view opens up to Gleiberg Castle, followed by a downhill stretch that leads out of the dense woodland, but only briefly touches the Launsbach district of Wettenberg . The next stop is an information board with facts about numerous historical fortifications in the area. At the following tennis courts, the route swings to the right on a course that circles the town of Krofdorf-Gleiberg, but shortly after the confluence of the approach to Gießen, leads directly along the historic Gleiberg Castle. The keep can be climbed. From there, in good weather, the view extends over the Giessen basin to the Vogelsberg, the Taunus and the Westerwald.
Through the field markings and past the confluence of the Celtic-Roman path, you continue with a view of the neighboring and once rival Vetzberg Castle, from which you also have a panoramic view from the balcony area. The hiking trail then leads along a stream to the bus stop in Rodheim-Bieber.
Access pouring
- Distance: 7.2 km
- Walking time: 2 hours
- Difficulty: easy
This short section of the way provides the connection from Gießen main station to the Lahnwanderweg. From the station car park it leads to Heuchelheimer Brücke and on it over the Lahn. On the other side, go down the stairs, past the municipal cleaning office and allotment gardens. A dirt road follows and after an underpass a short distance through an industrial area. Before a stream the path bends to the right in the direction of Heuchelheim. It then leads past the Bismarck tower and meets the Lahn hiking trail in the direction of Wettenberg.
10th stage: Rodheim-Bieber - Wetzlar
- Distance: 16.4 km
- Walking time: 4.5 hours
- Difficulty: medium
| Place / sight | Distance (km) |
Height (m above sea level ) |
Further information |
|---|---|---|---|
| Start of the Rodheim-Bieber stage | 0 | 195 | Immediately at the train station |
| Women's cross | 2.5 | 316 | Refuge |
| Schwalbenbach crossing | 4.9 | 223 | |
| Lahn heights | 6.5 | 259 | Lookout point, parking lot |
| Branch to the Roman Forum | 8.6 | 174 | |
| Passing under the A45 | 9.5 | 159 | |
| Lahn Bridge Naunheim | 10.4 | 159 | |
| Bismarck Tower | 13.7 | 262 | Observation tower |
| End of the stage in Wetzlar | 16.4 | 172 | Cathedral Square |
description
From Rodheim-Bieber it goes past allotment gardens and through a stream meadow. Thanks to a few switchbacks, the ascent into a mixed forest area can be managed well. A refuge is available at the Frauenkreuz, a station on the Way of the Cross. Shortly afterwards, the highest point of the day's stage is reached near the Königstuhl. The descent into the valley of the Schwalbenbach follows.
The following gentle ascent leads past a forest kindergarten and shortly afterwards out of the forest at a parking lot. From there you have a wide view over the Lahn valley and the city of Wetzlar. It continues along the edge of the forest and through the field markings on the outskirts of Waldgirmes . Here you can make a detour to the Roman Forum, a former fortified trading center of the Roman Empire. After crossing under the Autobahn 45 and over the Lahn bridge near Naunheim , it goes back to the natural surroundings of the Lahn meadows.
Now the route leads along the edge of Garbenheim and over the Eselsberg to the medieval defense tower, which today serves as a vantage point under the name Bismarck Tower, but is currently closed. Shortly after the central cemetery, the route turns into the Wetzlar core city. The stage destination is in the old town in front of the cathedral . It's another 1.5 kilometers to the train station .
11th stage: Wetzlar - Braunfels
- Distance: 13 km
- Walking time: 4 hours
- Difficulty: easy
| Place / sight | Distance (km) |
Height (m above sea level ) |
Further information |
|---|---|---|---|
| Start of the stage in Wetzlar | 0 | 172 | Immediately at the train station |
| Kalsmunt | 1.1 | 219 | Castle ruins |
| Vineyard nature reserve | 4.1 | 259 | |
| Taunusblick | 5.6 | 288 | Lookout point |
| Braunfels Castle viewpoint | 10.5 | 155 | |
| End of stage in Braunfels | 13 | 251 | At Braunfels Castle |
description
With a rather steep ascent through the old town of Wetzlar and past the Kalsmunt castle ruins, the path leaves the city area. At the edge of a long wooded area, the route now continues on a level route to the Weinberg bird sanctuary and the former Amanda pit, which is reminiscent of the mining tradition in the region. After the Feldbergblick vantage point, from where the heights of the Taunus seem almost within your grasp when the weather is good, you continue south of the former mining area, which is now a large forest area.
Shortly afterwards it goes, partly on the same route as the Lahnhöhenweg, through another forest area down into the valley of the Solmsbach and then back up the slope to Braunfels and through the spa gardens to the market square and the castle , where the stage ends.
12th stage: Braunfels - Weilburg
- Distance: 18.1 km
- Walking time: 6 hours
- Difficulty: medium
| Place / sight | Distance (km) |
Height (m above sea level ) |
Further information |
|---|---|---|---|
| Start of the stage in Braunfels | 0 | 251 | Immediately at the castle |
| Big pond | 0.8 | 120 | |
| Silver lake | 2.8 | 269 | |
| Parking lot for hikers | 3.3 | 259 | |
| Entrance to the Weilburg animal park | 8.5 | 259 | |
| Kubach crystal cave | 12.3 | 224 | |
| End of the stage in Weilburg | 18.1 | 159 | At Weilburg Castle |
description
The day's stage begins again with a crossing of the spa park, but this time down the slope towards the west. The route leads along the banks of the Großer Weiher and into a large forest area that is already part of the Hochtaunus Nature Park . The next stopover is the much smaller Silbersee, which is shortly followed by a hiking car park at the edge of the forest, which can be used as an alternative entry point to the route.
This is followed by a longer forest stage, at the end of which the historic enclosure wall of the Weilburg zoo comes into view for the first time. First, however, the path leads through the field markings south of Hirschhausen , and finally swings directly to the wall of the zoo and leads past its entrance. The hiking trail then briefly accompanies federal highway 456 , which has to be crossed. We continue through the forest and along the Kuhbach to the vicinity of the Kubach crystal cave.
The Lahn hiking trail reaches Weilburg through a varied field and forest landscape with short ascending and descending sections. The historic city gate leads through the core of the former residential town to the castle on the high mountain spur within the narrow Lahn loop. The train station is around 900 meters away in the valley.
13th stage: Weilburg - Aumenau
- Distance: 19.4 km
- Walking time: 6.5 hours
- Difficulty: medium
| Place / sight | Distance (km) |
Height (m above sea level ) |
Further information |
|---|---|---|---|
| Beginning of the stage in Weilburg | 0 | 159 | At Weilburg Castle |
| At the Steinbühl | 3.0 | 276 | Refuge |
| Feldberg view | 7.7 | 281 | Panorama point |
| Parking lot for hikers | 3.3 | 259 | |
| Small pond | 9.0 | 216 | Resting bench |
| Outskirts of Falkenbach | 14th | 199 | Resting bench |
| End of the stage in Aumenau | 19.4 | 122 | At the Lahn bridge |
description
The descent leads over stairs down the Schlossberg, then the Ernst-Dienstbach-Steg crosses the Lahn. After a few minutes, the Lahn hiking trail turns right on the banks of the Lahn. Here it goes through dense forest a long stretch up the slope to the Lahn heights.
At the "Am Steinbühl" refuge, the steepest ascent has been mastered and a long stage follows over the densely wooded ridge with alternating easy inclines and slopes. At the edge of the forest, the landscape opens up to a view of the Großer Feldberg . Shortly afterwards it is necessary to cross a district road. Along the edge of the forest and through the field markings of Wirbelau , it goes downhill again into the Lahn valley. A stopover is possible at a small pond with benches. After a short section in the forest, the route meets the Lahn again opposite Gräveneck and briefly runs directly along the bank and together with the Lahnhöhenweg.
Along the Wirbelauer Bach, however, the path soon branches off the river again, branching off to the right. A country road and the stream must be crossed. After changing fields and forest sections, the path again climbs up the slope to the outskirts of Falkenbach, only to accompany the river at a short distance with a slight gradient. After a last section through the Lahnaue, the Aumenau bridge is reached, where the day's stage ends. This bridge is around 400 meters to Aumenau train station .
14th stage: Aumenau - Villmar
- Distance: 12.7 km
- Walking time: 4 hours
- Difficulty: easy
| Place / sight | Distance (km) |
Height (m above sea level ) |
Further information |
|---|---|---|---|
| Start of the stage in Aumenau | 0 | 122 | At the Lahn bridge |
| Heimann's mill | 3.9 | 168 | |
| Steimelskopf | 6.2 | 225 | Panorama points |
| Tiefenbach Bridge | 8.2 | 194 | |
| Riding stables | 10.5 | 183 | |
| End of the stage in Villmar | 12.7 | 121 | At the train station |
description
From the starting point at the Aumenauer Lahnbrücke, the path follows the right bank of the river for almost three kilometers. In a forest south of Seelbach , the climb back to the Lahn heights begins. There the route leads past Heimanns Mühle through the agriculturally used area. In particular on the Steimelskopf, the area offers panoramic views of the Westerwald and Taunus.
In a subsequent small wooded area, the Tiefenbach is crossed by means of a newly constructed footbridge. Over a knoll and the Runkel field markings , it goes past a riding stables back down into the Lahn valley. Just like the beginning, the end of the day's stage is close to the river bank. The stage ends directly at Villmar train station and at the Lahn marble museum, which deals with the geology of the region and the processing of the Lahn marble .
15th stage: Villmar - Limburg
- Distance: 13.5 km
- Walking time: 4.5 hours
- Difficulty: medium
| Place / sight | Distance (km) |
Height (m above sea level ) |
Further information |
|---|---|---|---|
| Start of the stage in Villmar | 0 | 121 | At the train station |
| Panorama point | 1.4 | 137 | View of the König Konrad monument |
| Dr. Otto Bruchhauser Temple | 3 | 152 | Panorama point |
| Branch to Runkel Castle | 3.8 | 118 | |
| Former Jewish cemetery | 5.1 | 143 | |
| Blucherschanze | 6.3 | 155 | |
| View from St. Lubentius | 8.5 | 119 | |
| Old Lahn Bridge Limburg | 13.1 | 118 | |
| End of stage Limburg | 13.5 | 117 | Station forecourt |
description
From Villmar train station, the route initially follows the railway line towards Limburg. To open the barrier, you have to call the intercom there. Soon there is an ascent through a small forest area to the heights above the banks of the Lahn. There it always goes along the edge of the alluvial forest in the direction of Runkel. As a stopover, there is a panoramic point from which the impressive rock formation opposite and the King Konrad monument erected on it can be seen well. Shortly before Runkel follows the Dr. Otto Bruchhäuser Temple, another striking vantage point with a pavilion.
In Runkel the river is crossed over the historic stone bridge below the castle. The castle itself is a bit off the route, but is easily accessible for a tour. Past the campsite, the path climbs again to the Lahn heights on the left. The former Jewish cemetery in Runkel and the Blücherschanze near Ennerich are right on the way.
Near Ennerich, the path takes a shortcut through a large wooded area through the inside of a loop of the Lahn. At the end of this stage, the view of St. Lubentius Church in Dietkirchen on the other side of the river becomes clear - the most important church in the region until the Limburg Cathedral was established. Now the path on the outskirts of Eschhofen approaches the Lahn again. The route meets the Limburg core city under the bridges of the ICE route and Autobahn 3 . There it goes right along the foot of the cathedral rock . At the historic bridge, the path turns directly into the old town and leads to the train station .
16th stage: Limburg - Balduinstein
- Distance: 13.8 km
- Walking time: 4.5 hours
- Difficulty: medium
| Place / sight | Distance (km) |
Height (m above sea level ) |
Further information |
|---|---|---|---|
| Start of the Limburg stage | 0 | 117 | At the train station |
| Devil's pulpit | 4.5 | 129 | Lookout point |
| Forecourt of Diez Castle | 5.8 | 121 | |
| Fachingen pavilion | 8.4 | 161 | Lookout point |
| French lay | 12 | 154 | Resting place |
| End of stage Balduinstein | 13.8 | 112 | At the train station |
description
From the station forecourt, it goes through Parkstrasse, the former Limburg villa mile, over the wooded Schafsberg back to the floodplains on the banks of the Lahn. There the route crosses the state border to Rhineland-Palatinate. The following ascent leads over the Teufelskanzel vantage point and below the Oranienstein Castle to the local recreation area Hain, down to the old town of Diez with its Count's Castle and thus directly back to the banks of the Lahn. After a short ascent, the route follows the steep bank above the river.
A viewing pavilion offers an overview of Fachingen with its traditional mineral water source . Down into the valley it goes directly past the mineral water works and the Fachinger Grundstollen. The following steep ascent is done in serpentines and the route now accompanies the Lahn at some distance through a dense forest area. The Franzosenlay lookout point high above a river bend is also ideal for a longer rest thanks to its mountain huts. Shortly afterwards the path leaves the wooded area, crosses the field markings of Balduinstein for a short distance, to drop into the village and end at Balduinstein train station .
17th stage: Balduinstein - Obernhof
- Distance: 19.3 km
- Walking time: 6.5 hours
- Difficulty: hard
| Place / sight | Distance (km) |
Height (m above sea level ) |
Further information |
|---|---|---|---|
| Start of the stage in Balduinstein | 0 | 112 | At the train station |
| Saukopp | 0.9 | 223 | Observation pavilion |
| Fork stone | 2.9 | 230 | Refuge |
| Hellbach Bridge | 6.1 | 109 | |
| Laurenburg colliery | 9.5 | 99 | Branch to the mining nature trail |
| Wolfslei | 12.5 | 235 | Striking rock |
| Goethe point | 17.2 | 248 | Branch to the via ferrata |
| End of stage Obernhof | 19.3 | 88 | At the Lahn bridge |
description
Because of the numerous ascents and descents, it is one of the most challenging stages of the entire Lahn hiking trail. Shortly after the start, steps lead up to the wooded hill at the Balduinstein church, where, after a few hundred meters, the Saukopp pavilion allows a good view, especially back to the Balduinstein castle ruins. There follows a relatively flat stretch on the edge of the forest and through the field markings into the nature reserve Gabelstein-Höllenloch. A refuge is available directly at the fork stone. In the forest, the path crosses the Höllenlochtal and crosses the Hellbach to touch the outskirts of Steinsberg and then lead in serpentines down into the Rupbachtal. This is followed by another ascent and a route with many smaller ascents and descents through the well-known forest on the banks of the Lahn.
The river is crossed with the help of the bridge at Laurenburg. Via a former colliery site, it goes back out of the Lahn valley in renewed serpentines. Here you can branch off onto the approximately two-kilometer-long educational mine trail in the direction of Holzappel , which provides a wealth of information about the region's mining tradition. The Lahnwanderweg continues to follow the course of the river at some distance. The next stopover is the striking Wolfslei rock formation in a loop of the Lahn. Another ascent is followed by a longer, relatively flat stage at the edge of the forest, before the path descends through a dense forest area back to the river.
At the Goethe point above Obernhof , in addition to the wide view of the landscape, you can also choose between continuing the regular route and changing to the more demanding via ferrata. In any case, the tour leads past the small vineyards that are among the last relics of viticulture on the Lahn. The stage ends at the Lahn bridge from Obernhof. The train station is directly opposite on the other side of the river.
18th stage: Obernhof - Bad Ems
- Distance: 19.5 km
- Walking time: 7 hours
- Difficulty: hard
| Place / sight | Distance (km) |
Height (m above sea level ) |
Further information |
|---|---|---|---|
| Start of the stage in Obernhof | 0 | 88 | At the Lahn bridge |
| Long look | 1.0 | 148 | Lookout point |
| Weinähr bridge | 2.8 | 94 | Crossing over the Gelbach |
| High lay | 4.9 | 246 | Lookout point, hut |
| Lahn Bridge Nassau | 7.8 | 82 | |
| Stein Castle | 8.5 | 120 | |
| Kuxlay | 12.8 | 291 | Lookout point |
| Lahn Bridge Dausenau | 15.6 | 80 | |
| Concordia tower | 18.3 | 236 | Lookout point |
| Badlei | 19th | 135 | Lookout point |
| End of the stage in Bad Ems | 19.5 | 76 | In the spa district |
description
The path initially runs a short distance over Borngasse and Neue Straße, congruent with the end of the previous stage, but then follows the Lahn with a little distance downstream. The route meanders along nature trails through the Lahnknie around the Bernthahner Kopf and leads to the Langenaublick lookout point, before finally reaching the banks of the Gelbach near Weinähr . For almost half a kilometer, the hiking route follows the brook to cross it on the outskirts of Weinähr. This is followed by the rather steep ascent to the Hohe Lay rock peak, which offers benches, a refuge and a wide view of the country. The following descent along the Lahn leads into the city of Nassau and past its historic town hall. The river is crossed over the Lahn bridge on federal road 417 .
On the other bank, the path branches off to the right and serpentines up to the Steinschen Castle and the memorial for the state reformer Freiherr vom Stein . Nassau Castle , from which both the Nassau ducal house and today's Dutch royal family originate, can be reached via a side route of around 700 meters in length . After the descent into the Mühlbachtal, there is a long ascent through the forest area south of the Lahn. The Kuxlay lookout point is the stopover there. Shortly thereafter, there is a long and sometimes steep descent to the village of Dausenau, which is located on both sides of the Lahn. There the river is crossed again on the bridge of the federal highway 260 . In Dausenau the old city wall is worth seeing. The Lahn hiking trail leaves the village past the Ackertsturm and Ackertspforte.
We continue through an extensive area with weekend homes. Here the terrain rises over a long stretch, albeit without extreme steep sections. About two thirds of the way to Bad Ems, the Concordia tower again offers a vantage point and marks the beginning of the slow descent towards the end of the stage. Immediately on the outskirts, the picturesque Badlei rock formation invites you to linger for a while. The stage ends in the Bad Ems spa district. The district town's train station is around 300 meters away on the other side of the Lahn, accessible via the Bäderlei bridge.
19th stage: Bad Ems - Niederlahnstein
- Distance: 16.4 km
- Walking time: 5 hours
- Difficulty: medium
| Place / sight | Distance (km) |
Height (m above sea level ) |
Further information |
|---|---|---|---|
| Start of the stage in Bad Ems | 0 | 76 | At the Lahn bridge |
| Lviv | 3.2 | 110 | Natural monument |
| Summit cross | 4.2 | 144 | |
| The highest point | 8.3 | 289 | At the Geierkopf |
| Mehrsberg hiking loungers | 9.9 | 260 | Resting place |
| Beginning of Ruppertsklamm | 11 | 231 | |
| End of Ruppertsklamm | 12.5 | 70 | |
| Lahn estuary | 14.9 | 64 | |
| End of the stage Lahnstein | 16.4 | 71 | At the train station |
description
The stage leads through the entire spa area of Bad Ems and beyond directly along the river bank. The route only bends at Carl-Heyer-Strasse, moves away from the river and climbs towards Fachbach at the edge of the Lemberg natural monument . Through the village and further uphill, the hikers move on the historic post route past a summit cross. The path runs along the densely wooded ridge to the right of the Lahn and climbs steadily for around five kilometers. The descent begins at the Geierkopf across from Mialen. On the Mehrsberg opposite Friedland, hiking loungers are available for a rest.
At the Ruppertsklamm, the Lahnwanderweg runs congruently with the Rheinsteig . This is where an approximately 1.5 kilometer long, well-secured section through the steep gorge begins. At the end of the gorge, the route has come back close to the banks of the Lahn. The path now follows the river at a short distance on its last two kilometers into Lahnstein and up to its confluence with the Rhine. Finally, it goes a short distance along the Rhine and to Niederlahnstein train station, where the Lahn hiking trail ends.
Connections to long-distance hiking trails
At the beginning, the Lahnwanderweg shares a section with the Rothaarsteig . Shortly before the Rhine, the Rheinhöhenweg and Rheinsteig are crossed. In Marburg there is a connection to the Elisabethpfad . The path repeatedly runs in short sections together with the Lahnhöhenweg .
literature
- Pocket guide Lahnwanderweg (free of charge). Download and order under brochures
- Sabine Melcha, Joachim Lutz: Hikeline Lahnwanderweg . 2nd edition 2016, 208 pages, Verlag Esterbauer, ISBN 978-3-8500-0709-2 .
- Thorsten Lensing: Roth hiking guide Lahnwanderweg: From the source to the Rhine . 1st edition 2016, 128 pages, Bergverlag Rother, ISBN 978-3-7633-4492-5 .
cards
- Nassau Nature Park 3 (East). 1: 25,000. Hiking map: Diez, Hahnstätten, Katzenelnbogen. Land Survey Office Rhineland-Palatinate; 5th edition 2010. ISBN 3-89637-305-6 .
- Nassau Nature Park 1 (West). 1: 25,000. Hiking map: Bad Ems, Braubach, Lahnstein, Nassau. Land Survey Office Rhineland-Palatinate; 4th edition 2011. ISBN 3-89637-268-8 .
Web links
- Official website of the Lahn hiking trail
- Heidrun Braun: Lahnwanderweg: Where Goethe processed his heartache . Spiegel Online, August 10, 2014
- GPS hiking atlas Lahnwanderweg on OSM map with GPS data to download and tour description
- Tour planner app , including data on the Lahn hiking trail ( page can no longer be accessed )