Sankt Goarshausen by the Loreley Rock

Sankt Goarshausen is located right next to the Loreley Rock in the Upper Middle Rhine Valley UNESCO World Heritage Site. The Loreley Rock is made of slate, rises 125 metres high and is located at Rhine kilometre 555. Possible highlights of your stay include not only the scenery, but also the old town, castles and themed trails. You can plan your time around whether you mainly want to explore the Loreley landscape, historic buildings or a particular trail.

Old Town, Towers and Churches

The old town has two town towers and several listed half-timbered houses. The Round Tower is 22.60 metres high and still serves as a clock tower. At the end of the old town, a historic portal crane dating from 1917 stands directly on the Rhine. The Loreley statue adds a different note: it stands at the tip of the harbour mole.

The churches also offer a range of historical and artistic points of interest. The Protestant Church is a landmark of Sankt Goarshausen and was built between 1860 and 1863. The Catholic Church of St John the Baptist was completed in 1925; its ceiling paintings were influenced by the school of Lucas Cranach. At the foot of Maus Castle stands the Catholic Church of St Martin. It was first mentioned in a document in 1042 and contains Gothic frescoes. The churches thus bring together different periods: an early documentary mention, a 19th-century construction period and a later-completed church with paintings influenced by Cranach.

Castles and Other Cultural History

Katz Castle has stood on a steep rock above the old town since 1343. It was destroyed in 1806 on Napoleon’s orders and rebuilt between 1897 and 1905. Maus Castle, above Wellmich, was built from 1356 onwards and is also known as Peterseck Castle, Deuernburg or Thurnberg. Their histories differ: Katz Castle’s story includes its destruction and reconstruction, while Maus Castle is also known by several names.

The Loreley Museum offers a different thematic focus, with objects related to wine and drinking culture. These exhibits provide another way to explore the history of the area, alongside its buildings, churches and castles.

Trails and Their Themes

In the Sankt Goarshausen area, the 700-metre Five Wounds Trail begins between Wellmich and Dahlheim. Six wayside shrines stand along it. The first was erected around 1869, and four more were added by 1900. The Mining and Landscape Trail runs from Wellmich to Sankt Goarshausen-Ehrenthal; information panels explain geological and natural history features. The trails therefore have distinctly different focuses: the wayside shrines are the main feature of the Five Wounds Trail, while the Mining and Landscape Trail offers explanations of geology and natural history. If you plan to take the Mining and Landscape Trail, check the trail conditions locally.

A Rhine ferry runs between Sankt Goarshausen and St. Goar. It provides access to the left-bank Rhine Castle Trail and the Upper Middle Rhine Valley World Heritage Trail. You can therefore consider these two hiking trails in addition to the trails in the Sankt Goarshausen area. Ferry schedules and operating conditions may change; check them before travelling.

Visitor Centre, Stage and Planning

The Loreley Visitor Centre is located on the Loreley and is intended for visitors to the area. The Loreley open-air stage is right next door and regularly hosts cultural events. For your planning, it is advisable to check the visitor centre’s opening arrangements and the latest event dates before your trip.

Discover more destinations: Prath, Osterspai, Kaub, Kestert, Dörscheid, Kamp-Bornhofen, Bornich, Braubach

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