Kleiner Wäller GeoRoute Glass City Wirges

Description

At the end of the 19th century, the first glass factory was established in Wirges, and even today up to two million bottles are produced here daily. At numerous geo-stations of the Westerwald-Lahn-Taunus National Geopark, you can learn interesting facts about the history of the railway and the glass industry, as well as about the development from a village to a center of industrial culture. The circular hiking trail leads you through the town of Wirges and the adjacent forests, offering numerous views of Wirges and the Montabaur Heights. The Silbersee (Silver Lake) and the chapel on the Steimel hill are also located along the trail. In the town center, numerous restaurants, bakeries, and an ice cream parlor invite you to stop for refreshments.

Approach

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Public transport

Wirges is part of the Rhein-Mosel transport network. Wirges station can be reached by train via the HLB line on the Unterwesterwald route between Limburg and Siershahn. Additionally, bus 420 runs between Hachenburg and Montabaur, and bus 425 runs between Höhr-Grenzhausen and Montabaur, both with stops in Wirges.

Parking

Bürgerhaus Wirges, Montchaninplatz 1 56422 Wirges

Directions

You start the circular route at the community center parking lot, heading towards the cemetery. Cross Südstraße through the pedestrian underpass and walk past the cemetery on your right. At Nassauer Ring, turn left and follow the path above the cemetery wall until you reach the end of the residential area. Now turn right and follow Stöckelches Weg to the first intersection. Turn right again here and you'll emerge above the Allerhand garden center on Grenzweg. Follow Martin-Luther-Straße. At the fork in the road with Walter-Liebig-Straße, you'll find the first information panel of the GeoRoute to the Dornberg housing estate. Continue along Martin-Luther-Straße until the first possible left turn. Follow the signs along the field path to Am Bahndamm and turn right. You'll now reach Wirges train station and another GeoRoute information panel. Follow Bahnhofstraße uphill along the bridge over the tracks. You'll reach the factory grounds of the still-operating Wirges glass factory. At this location, Wirges' glassmaking history began at the end of the 19th century. Follow Siemensstraße along the factory fence back towards the town. Before Siemensstraße curves slightly to the right, turn left onto the hiking trail. Follow the signs, keeping first left, then right, until you reach the Silbersee (Silver Lake). There you'll find another GeoRoute information panel about the Silbersee, which originated as a relic of the local clay pit and is now used as a fishing pond. The path now runs along the right side of the lake and leads you back to the road. Cross the railway tracks and the L313 to the hiking parking lot. Follow the path to the right and then turn left onto the footpath into the industrial area. Keep left at first and then turn right, following the footpath into the residential area. You'll reach Lohmühlenstraße; turn left onto it and then continue straight ahead, following the footpath between two houses. The path curves slightly to the right behind the houses and leads you past a small, privately created barefoot path. Turn left and cross the Schwarzbach stream. Follow the footpath straight ahead towards the swimming pool. Once there, walk above the parking lot to the right and then make a sharp left into the wooded area towards the tennis club. Behind the tennis club, the path continues to the right. After a while, you'll reach the panoramic display board. Enjoy the view of the town of Wirges, the cathedral, and the Montabaur Heights with the GeoBlick (a type of viewing platform). Continue straight ahead along the dirt track, keeping slightly to the right. Finally, a left turn will lead you to Wirges' local mountain, the Steimel. A chapel dedicated to Mary was built here on the Steimel in the mid-19th century. The next information panel provides further details about the chapel. Follow the path below the chapel and turn right. You'll pass orchards and take the left fork in the path. Turn right towards the town and follow the path past the Mai farmstead. Back in town, follow Friedensstraße, which becomes Lindenstraße. Turn right onto Kirchstraße. At the playground there, you'll find the last information panel about the history of Wirges. From here, a detour to Wirges Cathedral is worthwhile – otherwise, from the information point, turn left onto Mittelstraße and then immediately right onto Nikolausstraße and follow it. At Dr.-Luschberger-Straße, keep left and then turn right onto Rolandstraße. At the roundabout, take the first exit onto Theodor-Heus-Ring and then turn left onto "In der Grub". Follow the footpath straight ahead and then keep right. Follow the path until you reach the school grounds of the town of Wirges. Keep left following the road and you will reach the starting point again at the Wirges community center.

Safety instructions

Wear sturdy footwear and weather-appropriate, functional clothing that protects against cold and wet conditions or heat and sun.

Equipment

Sturdy shoes and appropriate clothing

Tips

Enjoy the panoramic view over blossoming fruit trees above Wirges all the way up to the Köppel.

Destination

Bürgerhaus Wirges, Montchaninplatz 1, 56422 Wirges

Starting Point

Bürgerhaus Wirges, Montchaninplatz 1, 56422 Wirges