Raiffeisen route

Description

We start in Flammersfeld, where the residential and office building of the former mayor F.W. Raiffeisen (Raiffeisenstraße 11) still stands today. From here we go through the wonderful landscape of the Rhine-Westerwald Nature Park and many small villages where F.W. Raiffeisen (1818-1888) advocated for the poor rural population and where he came up with the idea of the cooperative system.

An old mill on the Mehrbach, the Ehrenstein monastery, and also Lahr Castle line our cycling route, which leads us mostly on paved roads. In the Wied valley we are allowed to use a former railway track and even pass through the narrow tunnel in Peterslahr. Otherwise, we have to accept some inclines here and there, which are well worth it due to the beautiful panoramic views.

The "Lahrer Herrlichkeit" certainly lives up to its name, and perhaps the farm dairy is open and you can take a piece of Westerwald delight home with you.

Approach

From 57610 Altenkirchen or coming from the west via the A3 (Neuwied exit) via the B 256 to Flammersfeld.

Parking

Free parking "Am Kirmesplatz" in 57632 Flammersfeld, or also at the Bürgerhaus Flammersfeld, Rheinstraße 44

Directions

We start in Flammersfeld, where the residential and office building of the former mayor F.W. Raiffeisen (Raiffeisenstraße 11) still stands today. It has been converted into a small museum and can be visited. From the town hall, the route first leads us north through the district of Ahlbach (already mentioned in documents in 1432, with a mill building on the Ahlbach). Similarly old is Kescheid, where we can still find a listed farm complex with a half-timbered house. Now we ride down into the Mehrbach valley, past the Kapaunsmühle. This mill was in operation from about 1700 to 1964.

Schöneberg also has a long history. Around 1660 it was the largest village in the Ehrenstein parish. A special role was played by the districts called "neighborhoods" in which the inhabitants were obliged to help each other. After the road from Flammersfeld to Asbach was built on the initiative of Raiffeisen in 1854, Schöneberg developed into a street village.

Just at the village entrance we turn left towards Heide and continue to Altenburg. The name Altenburg comes from a prehistoric refuge castle located southeast of the village, also known as "Boddems Nück," whose remains are still visible today.

At the Kaltehöhe farm, we now descend into the Wied valley and pass the Ehrenstein monastery, whose history dates back to the 15th century. Since 2008, Franciscan nuns have lived here again, who have converted the monastery building into a conference center with accommodation.

We cross the Wied and now cycle towards Oberlahr. Most of our route runs on a former railway track (Altenkirchen - Linz), whose bridges were destroyed in World War II, so the route was abandoned. The railway tunnel in Peterslahr particularly reminds us of this former rail line.

We pass through the area of the "Lahrer Herrlichkeit" (Peterslahr - Burglahr - Oberlahr) and pass the Alvensleben tunnel. A 1.5 km long water drainage tunnel for the former ore mine "Grube Louise." Almost 30 years were spent building this straight tunnel, which was created to better utilize the adjacent ore mines during F.W. Raiffeisen's lifetime.

F.W. Raiffeisen promoted ore mining wherever possible but also ensured that compensation was paid for forest damage.

Almost opposite the Alvensleben tunnel, we see Lahr Castle. It is worth making a small detour because the village also offers historic buildings and the small cheese dairy in Heinrichshof.

In Oberlahr, the route takes us through a wonderful hollow path out of the village and then back up to Flammersfeld. At the entrance to Flammersfeld, on the right side of the bike path, is an idyllic small rest area between trees with a water treading facility. Here we can calmly review the route before starting our journey home from Flammersfeld.

Equipment

You should bring a snack and a drink. You will find nice rest stops along the route where you can comfortably have a picnic.

Tips

Be sure to visit the authentic Raiffeisen house. It is open every first Sunday of the month from 3 to 4 pm. For group tours, you can arrange an appointment upon request.

Information about the "Raiffeisen House" museum at www.vg-ak-ff.de

Destination

57632 Flammersfeld

Starting Point

57632 Flammersfeld