Dernbach (Westerwald): Monastery, Chapel and Hiking Trails

For a stay in Dernbach (Westerwald), the history of the Maria Hilf monastery complex and the Heilborn Chapel offer two distinct focal points. Local hiking and cycling routes add to the options. The wider Westerwald destination also offers further hiking and nature experiences.

Monastery History in Dernbach

The Maria Hilf monastery complex includes a monastery church, built and consecrated in 1861. A triptych from 1876 depicts the founder, Maria Katharina Kasper. The dates refer to two different historical milestones: the construction and consecration of the church, and the creation of the artwork.

The motherhouse houses the exhibition “In Katharina’s Footsteps,” featuring letters and personal belongings of Maria Katharina Kasper. The church, triptych and exhibition each tell a different story: they relate to the monastery complex, the founder, and preserved objects and letters.

Heilborn Chapel, Hiking Trail and Cycling Route

The Heilborn Chapel near Dernbach was built in 1692. A protected lime tree is also part of the site. Katharina Kasper used the chapel as a place of prayer and refuge. Visitors include worshippers, as well as patients seeking strength and peace there. The chapel is open daily until dusk; as access may change, check whether it is open to visitors before your visit.

The Heilborn Chapel is connected to the WR 2 hiking trail and the Aubachroute cycling network. At Heilbornweg in Dernbach, Heilborn with its Marian Chapel is one of the local sights. This gives you different routes to consider when planning: WR 2 is designated as a hiking trail, the Aubachroute as a cycling network, and Heilbornweg passes by a local sight.

For Heilbornweg, IVV participation ratings are based on the kilometers walked and are calculated daily. This is a practical detail for anyone who wants the distance covered on their tour to count toward their participation rating.

Hiking and Nature in the Wider Westerwald Destination

The wider Westerwald destination has an interactive hiking-pass system for the WesterwaldSteig, the Wiedweg, the Wäller Tours and the Kleine Wäller trails. The WesterwaldSteig runs for 235 kilometers through the Westerwald and comprises 16 stages. If you are planning a trip on this long-distance hiking trail, check the distance and stages in the current tour planner before departure.

The Druidensteig is shorter, covering 94 kilometers in seven daily stages through seven river valleys and offering more than 30 geo-information points. The details for the WesterwaldSteig and Druidensteig let you compare distances and numbers of stages; the Druidensteig also offers the number of geo-information points as an additional planning detail. As interpretive facilities may change over time, check the latest information before setting out.

Nature, geological history and industrial heritage are also part of the Westerwald. Stöffel Park is a former basalt quarry site covering around 140 hectares, bringing these three themes together. The TERTIÄRUM displays fossils, including the famous “Stöffel mouse,” which document around 25 million years of geological history.

Choose a hotel based on the themes you want to shape your trip.

More Destinations

Discover more destinations: Kadenbach, Liebenscheid, Westerburg, Höhr-Grenzhausen, Alsbach, Lautzenbrücken, Brandscheid, Elbingen

Return to the overview of the wider destination: Westerwald.