Hausen (Wied): Discover Malberg and the Wied Valley

If you are looking for a hotel in Hausen (Wied), you can plan your trip around the landscape, outdoor activities and local history. At Malberg, highlights include a small lake in a former basalt crater, a learning trail about basalt quarrying and seasonal activities. The Wiedtalbad and a fishing area on the Wied are also nearby.

Malberg: Basalt Landscape and the Seasons

At the beginning of this century, the basalt peak of Malberg was quarried away; a small lake formed in the resulting crater. Information boards along the basalt learning trail at Malberg provide information about basalt quarrying. The lake and trail offer two different perspectives on Malberg: the landscape altered by quarrying and the history of basalt quarrying.

Activities at Malberg also vary by season. In winter, it is a destination for sledding. In spring, summer and autumn, it offers hikers panoramic views of the Wied Valley and the heights of the Westerwald. For planning purposes, this means sledding is a winter activity, while hikes with the views described are on offer during the other three seasons.

Hiking Trails with Different Return Routes

The H2 Hausen circular trail climbs to Malberg and Malberg Lake, passes the Westerwald Clinic and St. Josefshaus, and returns to Wiedtalbad. The shorter Kleine Wäller MalbergSeeBlick loop follows a forest track to the car park halfway along the route. The main difference between the two descriptions is therefore the return route. Check current trail conditions locally before setting out.

The Kleine Wäller MalbergSeeBlick also includes a detour to a viewing plateau at Malberg Lake. There is a reclining swing there and a view of the steep basalt walls. The detour adds a dedicated viewpoint to the shorter loop.

Indoor Pool and Fishing on the Wied

Wiedtalbad Hausen has an indoor leisure pool with a slide, a current channel and a waterfall. This offers a different kind of activity alongside the hiking trails and seasonal pursuits at Malberg.

The Hausen fishing area on the Wied extends from Kreuzkapelle to Schießplatzweg. Seasonal rules apply to fishing; check current permits and restrictions in advance. These named endpoints help define the area as a clearly delineated stretch.

History at Malberg and Nearby

The former caretaker’s hut below Malberghütte was converted in 2022 into a small museum about the area’s former ski operations as part of a LEADER community project. This adds a historical dimension to today’s seasonal description of Malberg: its former ski operations are also part of its history.

Kreuzkapelle is located near the destination. It was built in 1694 by the parish priest of Waldbreitbach at the time and is the founding place of the Community of Franciscan Brothers of the Holy Cross Hausen/Wied, established by Brother Jakobus Wirth.

More Destinations in the Wider Neuwied Destination Area

The wider Neuwied destination area offers its own cultural and historical highlights alongside the attractions in Hausen (Wied). The Roentgen Museum Neuwied has a collection of Roentgen furniture and Kinzing clocks that is unique worldwide. Feldkirche in Neuwied-Feldkirchen is more than 800 years old. The UNESCO World Heritage Site of the Limes runs through the entire city area, with watchtowers and forts; the NR1 – Historical Roman and Celtic Trail is also a hiking trail in Neuwied.

For a cycling route, the Deichstadtweg is an alternative to the hiking trails: it is more than 17 kilometers long and follows the banks of the Rhine, with 24 stops along the way. The Fürstenweg is a certified circular route on the Rheinsteig and a premium hiking trail in Neuwied. Schloss Engers houses a castle museum; Schloss Engers also hosts festivals, concerts and other events. Check current dates if you are planning a visit around one of these events. Schloß Monrepos is listed as a museum of Ice Age archaeology.

Neuwied also offers leisure attractions: at Zoo Neuwied, SWeNis Kinderland includes a large playground and a petting zoo. The Abenteuerinsel at Deichwelle Neuwied is an indoor water playground with climbing, sliding, splashing, paddling and play facilities.

Discover more destinations: Vettelschoß, Kasbach-Ohlenberg, Dierdorf, Roßbach, Oberraden, Richert, Wallau, Urbach.

Go to the wider travel overview: Neuwied.