Great Nativity Trail in the Wiedtal around the Christmas village Waldbreitbach

Description

On the "Great Nativity Trail" we marvel at the variety of nativity scenes in the communities around Waldbreitbach. It leads us from the well-known Christmas village Waldbreitbach over the hiking path "Star of Bethlehem" (illuminated by many light bulbs with nativity scenes hidden in the hillside) to the Marienhaus monastery with a magnificent view over the beautiful Wiedtal. From here, the trail goes over the Clausberg down into the picturesque Fockenbach valley to Niederbreitbach to the St. Laurentius Chapel. Over the monastery church St. Josefshaus in Hausen, we hike to the area above the Wiedhof campsite in Waldbreitbach and continue parallel to the lovely Wied to St. Michael Church in Roßbach. The return goes on the other side of the Wied via Lache to the incomparable view from the Bärenkopp in Verscheid. Passing the Jewish Cemetery, we return again to Waldbreitbach and back to our starting point. The visiting times of the individual nativity scenes are listed in the second image and in the route description.

Approach

A3 to exit 35 Neustadt (Wied) and then via L270 towards Asbach/Neustadt/Obersteinebach/Niedersteinebach/Hümmerich/Krunkel and further via K88 and K90 towards Waldbreitbach

From Neuwied or Neustadt coming: L255 to Waldbreitbach

Public transport

VRM Line 130 between Neuwied and Neustadt to the stop "Marktstraße" in Waldbreitbach

Parking

Free parking at Marktstraße, Waldbreitbach with public toilets

Directions

We start at the Tourist Info Waldbreitbach and can immediately admire the large Christmas pyramid at the church steps a few meters further. Walking up the church steps, we pass the life-sized wooden figures from the Ore Mountains to the parish church Maria Himmelfahrt. Here is the large natural root nativity scene, to be visited from 29.11.25 to 25.1.26. It has been set up since 1989 and was recorded in the Guinness Book of Records in 1998 as the largest natural root nativity scene. The more than 1,000 roots are assembled and many living plants, as well as the brook and local moss, give the nativity scene its particularly natural character. After the church visit, we hike past the Protestant church on the Star of Bethlehem up the monastery hill to St. Marienhaus.

The "Star of Bethlehem" is a hiking trail lit by 3,500 light bulbs from 29.11.25 to 25.1.26. Along the path, about 30 small and larger nativity scenes are displayed in the hillside. St. Marienhaus is the motherhouse of the Waldbreitbach Franciscan Sisters. The founder of the order, Margarethe Flesch, called Mother M. Rosa, was beatified in 2008. She built the first house of today's monastery complex in 1861 with some sisters. The Franciscan order is especially devoted to nursing and elderly care. We can visit the nativity scene in the St. Marienhaus monastery from (date to follow).

Over the Clausberg, we go to the Saint Laurentius Chapel (also called Claus Chapel) in Niederbreitbach; we can see the nativity scene there from (date to follow). The further path leads us past the Wiedtalbad with the nativity scene displayed from 29.11.25 to 25.1.26 to Waldbreitbach. Here, we can take a small detour across the bridge to the Cross Chapel on the other side of the Wied—the nativity scene is to be visited from (date to follow). Our path continues uphill to the monastery church St. Josefshaus—nativity scene viewing from (date to follow).

The path continues through forest and meadows parallel to the Wied with magnificent panoramic views. A larger detour is the Westerwald Clinic on the heights with a beautiful view of the Star of Bethlehem on the other side of the Wied. In the foyer, the nativity scene is displayed from (date to follow). The "Great Nativity Trail" leads us from the monastery church St. Josefshaus to our next station at St. Michael Church in Roßbach, to be visited from (date to follow). Over the Lache with the restaurant "Lacher Stall"—nativity scene from 29.11.25 to 25.1.26—we hike over the heights of Hochscheid and Verscheid. In the pilgrimage chapel in Verscheid, we can visit another nativity scene from (date to follow). Over the magnificent view from the Bärenkopp, the trail goes down into the valley. Passing the Jewish Cemetery, we return to Waldbreitbach, take another look at the nativity scene in the Antonius Chapel—to be visited from 29.11.25 to 26.1.26—and go back to our starting point.

Safety instructions

Please pay attention to good footwear and weather-appropriate clothing

Equipment

Weatherproof hiking clothing, sturdy footwear

Tips

Short, interesting detour: Cross Chapel Waldbreitbach

Extra tour: Westerwald Clinic Hausen with nativity scene and good view of the Star of Bethlehem on the monastery hill

Literature

Wiedtal & Rengsdorfer Land hiking map

Destination

Tourist Info, 56588 Waldbreitbach

Starting Point

Tourist Info, 56588 Waldbreitbach