Kannenbäckerland Route: Variety between potteries, Westerwald Cathedral and Erlenhof Lake

Description

Depending on when I take this tour, I visit the Westerwald Ceramics Museum in Höhr-Grenzhausen before or after, the largest of its kind in the world. The town is one of the centers in Kannenbäckerland, the land of pottery. From the Schlossberg in Grenzau, the castle with its triangular keep greets us on the left. Later, when I arrive in Selters, I take some time to explore the historic town center of this village, which is one of the oldest in the Westerwald. I continue to Mogendorf. Here, wonderful ceramic objects are produced partly by hand in the many potteries, most of which have the typical salt glaze of the Kannenbäckerland. In Siershahn waits the Tonbergbaumuseum, which is open in the afternoons between April and November and otherwise by appointment. In Wirges, I like to visit the Westerwald Cathedral, and the Sculpture and Miniature Museum in the Fackelhahn/Rohr industrial park on the A 3 also attracts me with its large collection.

Brief description

This beautiful route offers not only wonderful highlights, but also challenging climbs. With breaks and sightseeing, I plan almost a whole day, because cycling alone takes close to four hours.

Approach

• From Cologne: Take A3 to L307 in Mogendorf, on A3 take exit 38-Ransbach-Baumbach, take L313 to Siemensstraße in Wirges
• From Frankfurt: Follow A3 to B255 in Heiligenroth, on A3 take exit 40-Montabaur, follow B255, take L300 and Bahnhofstraße to Siemensstraße in Wirges
• From Koblenz: Take A48 to Rheinstraße in Mogendorf, on A3 take exit 38-Ransbach-Baumbach, take L313 to Siemensstraße in Wirges
• From Siegen: B62N, B62, L288, K21, ... and take L307 until Siemensstraße in Wirges
• From Limburg a.d. Lahn: take A3 to B255 in Heiligenroth, on A3 take exit 40-Montabaur, follow B255, take L300 and Bahnhofstraße to Siemensstraße in Wirges

Public transport

By train to the station in Wirges.

Parking

Wirges train station

Directions

I start in Wirges at the train station. I go around the Massenberg near Ebernhahn and ride right through Ransbach-Baumbach. After crossing the A 48, I dive deep into the Nassau Nature Park before arriving in Höhr-Grenzhausen. The route continues with some angles to the north and down towards Grenzau, which lies in the Brexbach valley. Then follows an ascent and in a wide western arc it goes to Sessenbach and then to Wirscheid. On the way I enjoy wide views into the Westerwald and the Rhine valley. Descending again, I enter the Sayn valley and pass Breitenau and Deesen. I cross the A 3 and cycle via Ellenhausen to Selters. Here begins the tour to the south. The high forests of Siershahn provide shade. Soon the Westerwald Cathedral greets me in Wirges and my tour takes me close to the city center and back to the train station. For the challenging 48 kilometers of this circuit, I should plan more than three and a half hours without breaks.

Safety instructions

Very good physical condition required.

Equipment

For bags and backpacks not only the back offers space on a bike tour - the weight of the equipment should be best distributed over several parts of the body and wheel. Driving wind, rain or sun can lead to very different temperature sensations on the bike - a cold can best be avoided with a professional bike clothing. You should always have a suitable change of clothes on hand on a multi-day tour to be prepared for any eventuality. Among other important equipment, the necessary tools and repair utensils should not be forgotten. At high speed, it is easy to take a wrong turn on a bicycle tour: For orientation, traditional and modern aids such as a bike map or a GPS device. You should always have a small emergency kit with you.

Tips

You can get on this circuit almost anywhere, for example in Ransbach-Baumbach. Then the lake including the park forms the relaxing end of the tour.

Destination

Wirges, train station

Starting Point

Wirges, train station