Herzhausen: National Park, Hiking and Edersee

Herzhausen offers several starting points for planning your trip: the Kellerwald National Park Centre, hiking and cycling routes, and activities on Lake Edersee. Consider which focus best suits your stay. For some, the exhibition and its themes relating to the national park are the main attraction; for others, it is choosing a hiking route or an activity on the water.

Kellerwald National Park Centre: exhibition and visitor facilities

At the Kellerwald National Park Centre in Vöhl-Herzhausen, an interactive exhibition explains the wilderness of the Kellerwald, the history and background of the national park, and native species and habitats. It also explains the area's significance as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. A multilingual 15-minute 4D film complements the exhibition; there are also interactive activities, visitor services and a restaurant.

The centre has free parking and an outdoor area designed for families. Free electric scooters are available for visitors with limited mobility; a scooter lets you explore the nearby Hagenstein route independently. If you would like to plan your visit around the film, a scooter or the restaurant, check availability in advance. Individual exhibition offerings and procedures may change. The restaurant focuses on seasonal ingredients and regional cuisine; its opening hours may also vary.

Hiking: three Urwaldsteig Trail loops

Herzhausen is a starting point for two Urwaldsteig Trail circular hikes that pass the Hoch Stein viewpoint: they are 8 and 12 kilometres long. Another 19-kilometre Urwaldsteig Trail loop passes the National Park Centre and Hagenstein, crosses the national park and reaches the Asel-Süd ferry connection. The three route lengths give you a concrete basis for comparing hikes when planning, without having to mix different types of routes. Routes and ferry services may change; check both locally before setting out.

Cycle routes and activities on Lake Edersee

Several named routes pass directly through Herzhausen: the Edersee Circular Route, the Eder Cycle Route, the Hessian routes R5 and R6, the GeoRadroute Ruhr-Eder and the Orange Cycle Route. The ER 2 leads from Herzhausen towards the national park forests. This gives you a choice of different route names and connections. Check the current route and signage before setting off.

At Lake Edersee near Herzhausen, fishing is possible from the shore and from a boat. Local facilities also rent out rowing boats, canoes and pedal boats. If you are planning one of these activities, check current rental options and information about any permits in advance; providers and regulations may change. This will help you choose between spending time on the shore, fishing from a boat or going for a ride in a rental boat, depending on the conditions.

More to discover in the wider destination of Vöhl

The wider destination of Vöhl also has nature and cultural attractions that differ from those in Herzhausen. Vöhl's former synagogue is a simple half-timbered building: it was built in 1827 and inaugurated in 1829. Today, the building is used as a venue for concerts, lectures and memorial events; specific programmes depend on the scheduled dates.

In Vöhl-Asel, the bat trail combines interactive stations with clearly signposted information. A bat exhibition is housed in an old transformer station; infrared cameras offer live views into a maternity roost. In the evening, you can watch bats hunting with a bat detector and night-vision device if you register in advance. These attractions are part of the wider destination of Vöhl and are not features of the district of Herzhausen.

Discover more destinations

Discover more destinations: Marienhagen, Harbshausen, Obernburg, Buchenberg, Oberorke.

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