Holzhausen: Eder Cycle Path, Cliffs and Local History

Holzhausen brings together the Eder landscape, cycle path and local cultural history in a single travel itinerary. Holzhausen lies right beside a broad loop of the Eder in the narrow Upper Eder Valley. Cycling, landscape and culture each give the district its own distinctive character.

By bike and along the Eder

In the municipality of Hatzfeld, the Eder Cycle Path follows the former railway line and crosses two railway bridges in the Holzhausen district. The section between Hatzfeld and Dodenau has only minor changes in elevation. The bridges and elevation profile are separate points of reference: the bridges are in Holzhausen, while the information about the minor changes in elevation refers to the section between Hatzfeld and Dodenau.

A more precisely defined section of the river is also described: 500 metres of the Eder extend from the railway bridge above Holzhausen to the weir crest of the Obermühle in Holzhausen. When planning your trip, you can therefore consider the longer cycle route and this clearly defined stretch of river as separate topics.

The Eder loop, cliffs and landscape

North of Holzhausen lie the Holzhäuser Cliffs: a rocky outcrop with views of the Eder Valley and the Lützel Mountains. This striking rock formation is a different landscape feature from the broad loop of the Eder beside which Holzhausen lies. Those interested in the area's natural history will also find a precisely named site: the Hirschbachseite sub-area of the 5017-304 “Hirschbachseite and Eifaer Berg” FFH site lies above a loop of the Eder north of Holzhausen, within the municipality of Hatzfeld.

A 2006 survey recorded natural or near-natural siliceous rock faces with crevice vegetation in both sub-areas. The total surveyed area is 0.168 hectares. This figure refers to both sub-areas combined and adds a specific insight into the rock habitats recorded there to the description of the landscape.

The church and bakehouse in Holzhausen

The origins of the Holzhausen church date back to the 13th century. One distinctive feature of its imagery is the combination of a portrait of Luther and an image of a swan: this combination occurs only 21 times in the churches of Hesse. The church thus brings together great age and a rare pictorial motif.

Another local tradition centres on the bakehouse. Every two years, the bakehouse festival is held there over two days, with bread and cakes baked in the oven. The bakehouse is also used for baking outside the festival, including bread, cakes, tarte flambée, pizza and meat sausage. The festival returns every two years; the bakehouse is also used for baking outside the festival.

More cultural highlights in the wider destination of Hatzfeld (Eder)

The wider destination of Hatzfeld (Eder) includes the ruins of medieval Hatzfeld Castle, high above the Eder Valley. Built in the 13th century, the spur castle was the ancestral seat of the Lords of Hatzfeld, who were first mentioned in 1138. The Counts of Hatzfeld also built the town church of St. John halfway up the castle hill, in the style of a Gothic half-timbered church. The Emmaus Chapel now serves as a cemetery chapel; several concerts are held there each year.

In the wider destination, the Panorama Trail passes through the Schneitelwald, an old cultural landscape. In the 19th century, the hornbeams on both sides of the path were regularly coppiced. The Atelier for Calligraphy and Heraldry displays writing instruments, writing materials and texts from various centuries, tracing the history of writing over more than 2,000 years. Tours offered include an approximately one-hour introduction to the history of writing and an approximately one-and-a-half-hour tour with a focus chosen individually from various centuries and topics. Check the current availability of tours before visiting.

For the full travel overview: Hatzfeld.