Limburg-Weilburg: Discover the Lahn, culture and nature

Limburg-Weilburg offers several distinct highlights for a trip: medieval townscapes, the history of engineering, art, hiking and cycling tours, and special natural sites. You can tailor your choices to whether you mainly want to experience architecture, outdoor activities, or individual cultural and memorial sites.

Historic Townscapes and Buildings

In Runkel, the castle and the Lahn Bridge represent two different chapters in the history of architecture. The medieval castle was first mentioned in 1159 and continues to define the town’s appearance. The historic Lahn Bridge dates from 1448 and is one of the oldest bridges on the Lahn to have been preserved in its original condition. Together, the two buildings make Runkel an appealing destination for anyone interested in historic architecture.

Limburg offers a different focus: its historic half-timbered old town is one of the few undestroyed medieval town centers in Germany and has been renovated in exemplary fashion. High above the Lahn, St. George’s Cathedral stands atop a steep rock. With its seven towers, it is a landmark of the town and a cultural monument of European stature. Here, a distinctive historic town center meets a striking religious building.

Weilburg adds a history of royal residences and engineering. Weilburg Castle was built on a mountain spur high above the Lahn and is one of Hesse’s most significant cultural monuments. The navigable ship tunnel was built between 1844 and 1847 and is Germany’s oldest and longest navigable shipping tunnel. Together with the cupola lock at its lower entrance, it forms a unique technical monument. On a canoe trip in Weilburg, you can pass through the only navigable ship tunnel still in use.

Contemporary art also has its place: the Rosenhang Museum in Weilburg was established in the former August Helbig brewery. Covering around 2,000 square meters, it presents contemporary art in changing exhibitions; studios are also available to artists.

Hiking and Cycling Tours in Runkel and along the Lahn

In Runkel, the Lahn Hiking Trail and the permanent hiking trails “In the Steep Slopes of the Lahn” and “Through the Kerkerbach Valley” pass through the area. For cycling tours, the Lahn Cycle Path and the Kerkerbach Valley Cycle Path are also available. In Runkel, you can choose between hikes on the trails mentioned above and cycling tours on the two cycle paths.

For a longer cycling tour, Route Plan 1 is a good option: this 48-kilometer, moderate circular route runs from Limburg through the Kerkerbach Valley and the Hesse Westerwald, via Hadamar, and back to Limburg. The Lahn Cycle Path is certified with four stars, is 245 kilometers long, and is very well connected to public transport via the Lahntalbahn railway. Check route conditions before setting out.

Wildlife Watching and Special Landscapes

At the “Tiergarten Weilburg” wildlife park, you can observe native animal species in a natural setting. The park has a 400-year history; its animals include bears, wolves, elk, European bison and aurochs, red deer, wild boar, ibex and mouflon. The variety thus ranges from large herbivores to other native wild species.

The Kubach Crystal Cave offers a very different natural experience: it is Germany’s only crystal cave and is surrounded by 350-million-year-old limestone. Numerous crystals and pearl-shaped stalactites characterize its interior. At Mensfelder Kopf, by contrast, the focus is on protecting the landscape. This nature reserve is a European Flora-Fauna-Habitat conservation area, with protected habitats for many animal and plant species, some of them rare.

Culture, Remembrance and Regional Traditions

The ruins of a former Premonstratensian convent’s basilica lie on Beselicher Kopf. The ruins have been extensively renovated by the association dedicated to preserving the monastery ruins and are the starting point for scenic hiking trails. The Beselich pilgrimage chapel also tells the story of the area’s religious history: the Franciscan hermit Leonhard Niederstraßen built it in 1763. In 1767, it was named Maria Hilf and dedicated to the Fourteen Holy Helpers. To this day, the chapel is a destination for pilgrimages from the region.

The Hadamar Memorial on Mönchberg commemorates the victims of Nazi euthanasia crimes. It provides a solemn and important counterpoint to the destination’s historic buildings and places to visit.

You can learn about a regional tradition at the Selters Water Museum. During guided tours, visitors can sample the original Selters water in the 1907 Art Nouveau spring pavilion, the room where household water was served, and the reception rooms. The Selters spring has been known since 1536. Tours are available by advance reservation, so plan your visit accordingly.

Discover more destinations: Elbtal, Weilmünster, Bad Camberg, Limburg an der Lahn, Runkel, Löhnberg, Weilburg, Villmar, Mengerskirchen, Hadamar, Selters, Hintermeilingen, Elz, Hünfelden, Weinbach, Dornburg, Brechen, Fussingen.

See the overview of destinations: Hesse.