Westerwald-Steig Stage 9: Hachenburg - Limbach (East - West)

Description

The trail leaves the town through the gardens of Hachenburg Castle. It continues down into the second Holzbach gorge on the Westerwald-Steig trail. The trail follows the edge of Nister to the mill, which Konrad Adenauer used as a hiding place during the Nazi era. Following the river, the trail soon arrives at Marienstatt Abbey. It then passes Streithausen to reach the Kleine Nister River, which follows the path as far as Limbach, where there is a local museum to visit.

Brief description

This stage of the trail starts with a trip back in time in the museum of natural and cultural history, followed by a stroll through the town of the double-tailed lion and then on to the Cistercian abbey at Marienstatt.

Approach

From the south: via the B8 to Höchstenbach and then continue on the B413 towards Hachenburg
From the north: via the B414 to the Hachenburg exit

Public transport

Train from Cologne or Limburg to Hachenburg
Train to the ICE station at Montabaur, bus to ‘Hachenburg Altstadt’: bus no. 115
Return journey from Limbach to Hachenburg: by taxi to the train stop at Hattert and then with the Oberwesterwaldbahn train from Au-Limburg to Hachenburg
www.bahn.de
www.vectus-online.de
www.rmv-bus.de

Parking

Hachenburg, Westerwald museum of natural and cultural history (Leipziger Str. 1)

Directions

The Westerwald-Steig trail leaves Hachenburg through the historical town centre and the castle gardens, crosses the railway line and offers yet another wonderful view of the Siebengebirge mountain range. The trail now descends through the second Holzbach gorge on the Westerwald-Steig trail, crossing the River Nister and following the village of Nister towards the mill, where it crosses the river once again. A plaque commemorates the fact that Konrad Adenauer briefly hid here during the Nazi era. Continue following the river to reach Marienstatt Abbey, which enjoys a good reputation in the Nister Valley. From 1476 the abbey, founded in the 12th century, was ordered by Count von Sayn to open to lay people for three days every week. This marked the beginning of pilgrimages to the abbey. The Marienwanderweg (Mary’s hiking trail) between Marienstatt Abbey and Marienthal also has its origins in this period. Today, the monastery has a brewery with a beer garden and a hikers' car park and attracts many visitors, particularly at weekends. Walk past the abbey's ancient beech and oak trees and climb about 200m to reach another viewing point. The trail then passes Streithausen to reach the Kleine Nister River, which follows the trail as far as Limbach. Here you can visit the local museum as well as the town's many restaurants.
Access paths (marking: green W on a yellow background)

Safety instructions

Wear sturdy shoes and appropriate, weatherproof clothing that protects you from cold and wet or heat and sun.Take enough liquid with you. There are not always places to stop for refreshments.Please wear walking shoes appropriate for the trail, which will give you sufficient grip even on slippery and steep or rocky and uneven paths.If you are of the opinion that certain sections of the trail are not passable for you, then you should avoid them. Especially in adverse weather conditions, muddy and slippery passages can occur on natural paths.Especially in autumn, you should also be aware that leaves lying on the ground can hide uneven surfaces, roots, stones or holes in the path. You must expect path impairments of this kind when you undertake a hike.Although the trail is very well marked throughout, you should always have a suitable hiking map with you for safety reasons.

Equipment

Hiking boots/shoes
Suitable weatherproof clothing

Tips

Marienstatt Abbey is a worthwhile stop. Relax in the lovingly landscaped monastery garden and enjoy the peaceful, autumnal atmosphere.

Literature

- Wanderkarte-Leporello Westerwald-Steig, hiking map with GPS data and tips for day trips, rest stops and leisure activities, map size (w x h): 18 x 20 cm, 39 pages in total, including 29 pages of maps, ISBN 978-3-89920-461-2, €8.95 - Official WesterWaldSteig trail map for hikers and holidaymakers, 1:50 000 scale map, LVermGeo Rheinland-Pfalz, ISBN 978-3-89637-406-6, €8.50

Destination

Limbach

Starting Point

Hachenburg