Westerwald Attractions: My Top 23 Highlights

The Westerwald is a low mountain range that spans the three federal states of Rhineland-Palatinate, Hesse, and North Rhine-Westphalia.

We have explored the region and will show you the most beautiful places and attractions in the Westerwald. Enjoy our tips.

Limburg an der Lahn is a beautiful town in the Westerwald region. Limburg impresses with its incredibly lovely old town and the Limburg Cathedral. You can also find remnants of the old city wall.

A highlight is the 600-year-old Lahn Bridge. From there, you have a magnificent view of THE iconic photo opportunity that has made Limburg famous. Here you look at the cathedral and the houses of Limburg.

We strolled through the town and were absolutely enchanted by the winding alleys, the Limburg Castle, as well as the half-timbered houses painted in red and white with their black roofs.

Tip: Be sure to try the Limburger Säckel. This is a very tasty apple pastry made from a secret recipe.

The Westerwald is of volcanic origin. A hike to extinct volcanoes - doesn't that sound exciting? The Fuchskaute is one such extinct volcano and also the highest mountain at 657 meters. The name comes from the Fuchs-Kaute, which refers to a fox den.

If you do the entire hike, you'll end up walking 5 kilometers. The Fuchskaute is also a nature reserve. In winter, you'll find enthusiastic cross-country skiers here. Nearby is the Wacholderheide nature reserve.

If you enjoy hiking, swimming, and golfing, then your destination should be Wiesensee. Although it is artificially created, the landscape and surroundings are well-suited for relaxation or smaller hikes.

At Wiesensee, you will also find a kiosk as well as Café Seewies. A campground is located right by the lake, which fascinates young and old alike.

The perimeter of the lake is about 6 kilometers. Dogs must be kept on a leash. The lake is drained in winter.

Montabaur was fortified with a huge city wall in 1300. The beautiful town in the Westerwald received 15 towers and 12 city gates. Even today, the highest tower, the Wolfsturm, remains intact. We strolled through the town and checked out the highlights.

A very special attraction is the yellow Montabaur Castle. In 1700, the medieval castle was transformed into a Baroque palace. It is the landmark of the town. But the Great Market with town hall and the parish church of St. Peter in Chains are also worth seeing.

In the middle of the town, you'll find unique buildings such as the old Jewish meeting house, which dates back to the 17th century.

We also enjoyed the little town of Hachenburg. There's something to discover at every corner. Quaint little houses with typical black slate walls abound.

In 1654, a great fire raged in Hachenburg, destroying many houses. Therefore, the houses you see today, for example, at the beautiful marketplace, are from the 17th century following the fire. The Lion Fountain is particularly well-known.

Tip: My friend Sabine, who comes from the Westerwald region, tipped me off about the best beer in the region. The Hachenburg Brewery has been around since 1861 and is currently run by the 5th generation. Hachenburger Pils is famous far beyond the borders of Hachenburg.

One of the most beautiful hidden gems in the Westerwald is the Holzbach Gorge. It is the oldest nature reserve in the Westerwald. The Holzbach Gorge has been protected since 1929 and is considered one of the top attractions. The water has eroded up to 30 meters deep into the basalt.

We embarked on the beautifully laid-out hiking path. You walk 1.5 kilometers through the gorge. It goes over bridges and always along the banks of the Holzbach. Huge basalt blocks invite you to climb.

Tip: With a bit of luck, you may spot kingfishers here.

A huge mining tower rises into the sky and is the next attraction we head to. The Barbaraturm, standing at 22 meters, is located in Gebhardshainer Land near the Bindweide mine. Originally, the mining tower stood in the Harz region, but it was transported to the Westerwald, refurbished, and is now a popular observation tower.

From the Barbaraturm, you can reach the visitor mine Bindweide in Steinebach/Sieg in 15 minutes via the so-called Druidensteig.

We climbed the 96 steps and enjoyed the wonderful view from the top. From here, you look over the Siegerland and of course beyond the Westerwald.

The Bindweide visitor mine is also very interesting. Here you will learn all about iron ore mining. Of course, the obligatory yellow safety helmet is a must. You will delve deep into the tunnel during your tour.

Important: It is always consistently cool in caves and mines. In summer, it's advisable to always bring a jacket.

Another highlight is the Druidenstein. It was formed 25 million years ago and is now a National Geotope. The huge basalt cone lies above the town of Kirchen near Siegen.

Above the cone, which consists of solidified lava, a cross watches over. This place is definitely a power spot. Some legends surround the Druidenstein, suggesting it was once a religious site.

To reach the Druidenstein, you can either hike the Druidensteig or walk from the parking lot in 15 minutes. This family-friendly stroll is worth it.

Directly near the geotope is the Otto Tower. This is an observation tower that stands nearly 19 meters high on Kahlenberg (406 meters). You climb 102 steps and then have a great view over Siegerland.

The Mining Museum in Herdorf-Sassenroth is a perfect excursion destination for the whole family in the Westerwald. The mining history is one of the highlights in the Westerwald. At this museum, you will learn everything about the life of miners and delve deep into the tunnels.

This trip is definitely worthwhile and is considered one of the top attractions in the Westerwald. If, after your tour through the mine, you and your family still want to explore further, then the following two possibilities are great: From Kreuz am Leyfels and Kuckuckseiche, you will have a spectacular view over the Westerwald.

Castle ruins are always exciting. We love walking through historic grounds and imagining how people lived in the 17th century. The Isenburg Castle ruins were once home to the Lords of Isenburg.

Today, only a gate tower and part of a residential building remain, but it's worth making a detour to this attraction in the Westerwald. Hike up to the castle and enjoy the view from up there.

Afterwards, a visit to the Isenburg Local Museum is a good idea. Another excursion tip in the Westerwald is the Sayn Castle Park with its Butterfly Garden and the Neuwied Zoo. The town of Dierdorf with its castle park is also nearby.

Another important top attraction is the Abbey of Marienstatt. The Cistercian abbey was founded in 1212. Particularly popular among visitors is the self-brewed beer from the abbey's own brewery.

In spring, when the fruit trees bloom around the monastery, you should enjoy a beer in the beer garden at Marienstatt Abbey. We were totally enchanted by the springtime landscape on-site.

We found Basaltpark in Marienberg very exciting. The park is perfect for a family outing, as there is really a lot to discover. You can see columns of solidified lava. There are numerous basalt deposits in the Westerwald.

Here in the Basaltpark, you learn a lot about various rock formations. They are right in front of you to touch. The park is laid out around a pond. You walk once around it and pass by mining machines, basalt quarries, huge basalt columns, and old tracks with wagons. This is where the rock was transported.

Tip: Directly near the Basaltpark is also the Wildpark Bad Marienberg.

Majestically towering over the town of Runkel is Runkel Castle. Thick walls, several towers, and built on a rock, the castle looks extremely impressive. At the foot of the castle, you will find basalt deposits, of which there are many in the Westerwald. From the castle, you have the perfect overview of the Lahn and the surrounding area in the Westerwald.

The town of Runkel is also very picturesque with its typical half-timbered houses. We particularly enjoyed the small cantilevered balconies with slate tiles, which you can find on some houses.

Located near Dreifelden, Dreifelder Weiher is in the Westerwald. Here you can unwind, relax, and simply enjoy the peace.

Later, visit the café-restaurant. Campers can stay in a sleep barrel at the camping park. We really enjoyed it here since everything is totally unspoiled. We took a little walk by the lake. Wonderful.

Ehrenstein Monastery is currently run by Franciscan monks. Particularly the monastery church attracts many visitors every year. You should definitely take a look at the ancient stained glass windows. The Baroque pulpit will also catch your eye.

Today, there is a conference center in Ehrenstein Monastery. Above the monastery, the ruins of Ehrenstein Castle still stand.

Greifenstein Castle is not only imposing but also guards a very special treasure. You can find 100 bells in the bell museum at the castle. You should not miss this top attraction.

As a visitor, you are even allowed to strike some of the bells yourself. Pay attention to the varying sounds - it's really impressive.

Otherwise, you must explore the entire castle. From the castle wall, you have an excellent view of the Westerwald. By the way, the castle also has a prison that families should not miss during their exploration.

In the town of Wirges stands a church that is honored with the title of Westerwald Cathedral. The Catholic Church of Wirges St. Boniface is built in the style of Neo-Gothic and is quite impressive. The foundation stone was laid in 1885.

Wirges is an old glassblowing town. You can also recognize this by the figures on the fountain located in the center. They depict the professions of glassblowers and potters.

A very special town on the Rhine and thus bordering the Westerwald is Linz am Rhein. More precisely, it is located in the Rhine-Westerwald Nature Park. It is also called the Colorful Town on the Rhine. No wonder, as the old town of Linz is really beautifully colorful.

The half-timbered houses are beautifully designed and restored. It's a pleasure to walk through the town.

Whether Wetzlar is in the Westerwald or not is a matter of debate. However, the fact is that the town on the Lahn is so close that it represents one of the top excursion destinations in the Westerwald.

Close to Wetzlar is the impressive Braunfels Castle. It was first mentioned in writing in 1246. Around 1700, the castle was remodeled into a Baroque residence. The fairytale silhouette that the castle still has today was obtained in 1875.

As the last top attraction of the Westerwald, I would like to mention Koblenz. Although the city is not directly in the Westerwald, it is surrounded by four low mountain ranges: Eifel, Hunsrück, Westerwald, and Taunus.

Definitely take a cruise on the Rhine and a trip to the vineyards. Downriver, you will find the so-called Loreley. The Loreley is a 132-meter-high slate rock with an observation deck that offers a breathtaking view over the Rhine. The Loreley nymph stands on a harbor mole directly in the Rhine. In front of her lies Rheinfels Castle.

Moreover, Koblenz is one of the first excursion destinations you should head to when you go on vacation in the Westerwald. You must definitely check out the Deutsches Eck. You can find out which other top attractions in Koblenz await you in our extra article.

When the Romans ruled, they built the Limes - an outer boundary of the Roman Empire. It stretched over 550 kilometers through present-day Germany, from the Rhine to the Danube.

Part of the well-known wall lies in Hillscheid in the Westerwald. Here you will find a reconstructed Roman watchtower. Nearby, you can also visit a Roman herb garden. It's worth making a detour to this corner of Rhineland-Palatinate. This part of the Roman Limes is still not well known and is a real hidden gem in the Westerwald.

A fantastic excursion destination for families in the Westerwald is also the observation tower at Stöffel-Park. From the Stöffel observation tower, you have a great view of the active area of the quarry as well as the 140 hectares of Stöffel-Park. Of course, you can also see nice parts of the Westerwald.

So, what exactly is the Stöffel-Park? Its full name is Tertiary, Industry, and Adventure Park Stöffel. It is part of the Geopark Westerwald-Lahn-Taunus. Besides the abandoned buildings of an old basalt company, you can also go fossil hunting in the Geo Information Center Stöffel-Park.

In addition, the Stöffel-Park features a Tertiary Museum, the TERTIÄRUM, where you can admire the fossils found in the quarry, such as the famous Stöffel mouse. The park promises adventure and great photo opportunities for the whole family.

There is also a 10-kilometer-long hiking trail around Stöffel, which is part of the well-known Westerwald Steig.

Around Hachenburg lies the Westerwald Lake District. This consists of seven reservoirs in the Westerwald. They are located between Hachenburg, Westerburg, Montabaur, and Dierdorf. Although the ponds and lakes are often quite small, you can row, pedal boat, swim, and bike there.

The 7-Pond Hiking Trail is popular. The hiking trail leads through the Westerwald Lake District. You will find beautiful forest passages and seven ponds.