Discover Dillenburg

Dillenburg can be explored from several perspectives: the Wilhelm Tower and underground defensive structures reflect the history of the castle hill, while museums, historic stud farm buildings and trails offer other points of interest. When planning your trip, you can choose between cultural history, a guided visit and outdoor experiences.

Wilhelm Tower and Castle Hill

The 41-metre-high Wilhelm Tower was built from 1872 to 1875 on the former upper castle courtyard as a monument to William I, Prince of Orange. The tower houses the Orange-Nassau Museum, with numerous exhibits and richly illustrated texts about William I and his struggle for freedom in the Netherlands. The monument and museum thus offer different ways to explore his historical role.

Dillenburg’s defensive structures on the castle hill include partially excavated underground fortifications with bastions and defensive passages known as casemates. The town describes their scale as unique in Germany. If you are more interested in the architectural aspects, these structures offer a different focus from the exhibition in the tower. The Historic Trail in Dillenburg is marked with signs; QR codes provide information about the sites in text or audio format.

Museums and Stud Farm History

The Economic History Museum has been housed since 1983 in the villa of mine owner Carl Grün, built in 1914/15 in the neoclassical style. The Dillenburg State Stud adds another cultural and historical dimension: the stud farm complex shapes the townscape and preserves a centuries-old tradition. The Carriage Museum is housed in the Orangery, built in 1719.

An in-depth tour of the State Stud takes you through the stables and the large riding hall, offering an insight into the state-run riding and driving school. In the Brunnenhof courtyard, you can see horses at work and, where applicable, being harnessed to historic carriages. If this tour is important to your plans, check the current booking conditions in advance.

Guided Tours and Special Places

A guided tour of Dillenburg’s underground world ends with visits to the well in the Lion’s Den and the Rubens Prison. In Oberscheld, the Ypsilanta Mine offers a different perspective on the history of mining: this 140-metre-long tunnel was once used to drain water and can now be explored through a restored entrance. The two visits therefore differ both in subject and in format.

Trails and Nature in Dillenburg

The 16-kilometre certified Wacholderweg is one of eight additional Rothaarsteig trails. It loops around the district of Donsbach and begins and ends at the community centre or the wildlife park in Dillenburg-Donsbach. The Oranierpfad makes a wide loop around Dillenburg, passing natural monuments, geological features and historic buildings. This lets you compare a circular trail with a specified length and local connection with a longer route featuring nature, geology and history.

Donsbach Wildlife Park has a playground and a petting zoo. Its spacious, species-appropriate outdoor enclosures allow visitors, especially children, to experience nature and animal behaviour at close quarters. The wildlife park thus complements the historical attractions with a visit centred on observing animals.

Discover more destinations: Braunfels, Leun, Lahnau, Mittenaar, Wetzlar, Siegbach, Schöffengrund, Breitscheid.

View the main travel overview: Lahn-Dill District.