Splendor: Hiking and Mining History

During a stay in Splendor, you can make hiking and local history separate focal points. The town has four signposted hiking trails; colored arrows mark changes in direction, and the routes can be walked in either direction. To choose, first consider the approximate length, the respective starting point, and the character of the route. This lets you compare a longer stretch through the forest with a shorter circular trail, or consider historic mining as a second focus for your trip. These local themes give your search for a hotel in Splendor a concrete connection to your destination.

Hiking Routes Around Splendor

The yellow-marked forest loop is approximately 8.7 kilometers long and runs mainly through the forest around Hassel. It begins at the parking lot at the Hohegrete forest sports facility. The blue Hohegrete loop is about five kilometers long and starts at the Eckenstell shelter in Wickhausen. The red village-connecting loop measures around 5.7 kilometers; its starting point is at the playground by the village square in Splendor.

When choosing a route, the blue and red loops are relatively close in length, at about five and around 5.7 kilometers respectively. At around 8.7 kilometers, the yellow loop is considerably longer. If you are looking for a shorter route, you can distinguish between the two shorter loops by their respective starting points. Check current trail conditions before your hike, as they can change. The routes also differ in character: the yellow one runs mostly through the forest, while the red one connects villages.

Getting to Splendor

Splendor has a stop in the district of Wickhausen on the Au (Sieg)–Altenkirchen line; the nearest railway station is Au (Sieg). Since train timetables and stopping patterns can change, check the connection for your travel date.

Mining History in Splendor

Mining history offers a second way to explore local history alongside the hiking trails. Mining was already being carried out in Splendor in the 12th century. More than 50 mines and mining fields are recorded. The headframe of the former Hohegrete mine became a local landmark. This combination of a long mining history and a local landmark makes the subject a distinct focus alongside the hiking trails.

More Topics in the Wider Destination of Altenkirchen

The wider destination of Altenkirchen offers additional cultural-historical and landscape-related topics. In Flammersfeld, Friedrich Wilhelm Raiffeisen founded the “Flammersfeld Support Association for the Assistance of Impoverished Farmers” in 1849, the world’s first loan fund association. The association’s name explicitly refers to supporting impoverished farmers. In Marienthal, the Klosterdorfweg trail runs around the former Franciscan monastery and through the shaded spa forest belonging to the Archdiocese of Cologne. The route thus combines a historical connection to the former monastery with a stretch through the spa forest. Marienthal remains a popular pilgrimage site today.

Discover more destinations: Roth, Seelbach.

Return to the wider travel overview: Hamm.