Wäller Tour Klosterweg - Rengsdorf/Waldbreitbach

Description

The location of the Rengsdorf region in the Rhein-Westerwald Nature Park - between the Rhine valley and Westerwald plateau - occupies a special position as the "Gateway to the Westerwald" or better said as the "Westerwald balcony." It benefits from the wonderful panoramic views into the Rhine valley and the Eifel, from the idyllic stream and meadow valleys and, of course, from the adjacent elevated areas of the Westerwald.
In this attractive spot lies between the RheinSteig in Rengsdorf and the Westerwald-Steig in the neighboring Waldbreitbach the KLOSTERWEG, which guarantees a high recreational value for hiking and trekking enthusiasts over a length of about 18 km. It meets the requirements for premium hiking trails and is authorized to bear the GERMAN HIKING SEAL.
The KLOSTERWEG not only crosses a stunningly beautiful landscape with wide views and gentle hills, with green meadows and shady forests, it also invites on both sides of the path to stop and enjoy in various ways.

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Approach

Coming from the A3 to Rengsdorf (B256) - exit Obere Mühle/Hardert, turn left in the town center into Friedrich-Ebert-Straße and follow it to St. Kastor Chapel.

Coming from Neuwied: B256 to town center - turn right into Friedrich-Ebert-Straße and follow it to St. Kastor Chapel.

Taxi service

Taxi Waldbreitbach: 02638-9493800 (approx. €30, without guarantee)

Car rental Rengsdorf: 02634-9400044, 01511-9400044 (up to 8 persons approx. €25 total, without guarantee)

Public transport

Bus line 120 from Neuwied/train station to Rengsdorf/town hall Westerwaldstraße (13 minutes), follow Klosterweg access path (yellow) - hike to Waldbreitbach -

Bus line 130 from Waldbreitbach/Marktstraße back to Neuwied/train station (32 minutes)

Bus line 143 from Rengsdorf/town hall Westerwaldstraße (Mon-Fri from 7:25 am, no trips during school holidays) to Waldbreitbach/Marktstraße (30 minutes) - hike back to Rengsdorf

Bus line 143 from Waldbreitbach/Marktstraße to Rengsdorf/town hall Westerwaldstraße (Mon-Fri from 1:10 pm, no trips during school holidays/30 minutes), follow Klosterweg access path (yellow) - hike back to Waldbreitbach, only during summer months in daylight, as pure hiking time is about 6 hours

Alternatives:

Bus line 160 from Neuwied/train station to Rengsdorf/town hall Schillerstraße (30 minutes), follow Klosterweg access path (yellow), hike to Waldbreitbach

Bus line 146 from Waldbreitbach/Marktstraße back to Neuwied/train station (45 minutes, 1 transfer to RE8 train at Bad Hönningen station)

Parking

Rengsdorf: parking lot at St. Kastor Chapel Rengsdorf, Friedrich-Ebert-Straße

Waldbreitbach: parking lot at the parish church "Maria Himmelfahrt"

Directions

The KLOSTERWEG starts in Rengsdorf at the St. Kastor Chapel in Friedrich-Ebert-Straße (village exit towards Hardert; parking is available there) and leads over the Rosenberg spa grounds to the natural monument Römergraben. Above the barbecue hut, we keep to the right and follow the signs to the newly built pedestrian bridge over the B 256. Now it goes down into the idyllic Laubach valley and past the Laubachswinkel shelter hut on the RheinSteig access path to Ehlscheid. Upon arriving in Ehlscheid, we cross the well-kept spa park with a Kneipp facility. A gastronomy tailored to hikers welcomes hiking guests.

The Gommerscheider Höhe offers a wide view up to the Malberg on the opposite Wied side. The Westerwald-Steig runs there.

Now we descend through the Fürst zu Wied game reserve into the deep Dombach valley, to reach the town of Kurtscheid past the Rehberghütte and the Eichenhof. In Kurtscheid, the Holy Guardian Angels Church with village fountain and the historic baptismal font draws attention, but also the church windows and the depiction of the archangels and the creation story are of special beauty. We circle the cemetery and admire the magnificent panorama of the Siebengebirge in the distance. Here we linger on the newly built swinging benches and enjoy the wonderful view.

The Klosterweg now leads down into the Fockenbach valley, and we feel transported to the Allgäu with the hilly meadow landscapes of the Wied valley. We pass the Neuerburg castle ruins and cross the Burgseifen towards Kelterhof.

For a short while we walk along the Fockenbach, past the Mutter-Rosa memorial and climb right over a rocky height towards Ackerhof and Clausberg up to Glockscheid. Here we are already at the first destination of the stage, the monastery St. Marienhaus, and are rewarded on the monastery mountain terrace with a wonderful view into the Wied valley. Noteworthy here are the creation path and the herb garden of the Waldbreitbach Franciscans.

As the route continues, the KLOSTERWEG runs parallel to the Wiedweg to the parish church "Maria Himmelfahrt" in Waldbreitbach (during Christmas time, the largest natural root crib in the world can be admired in the church).

Here is both the end and the beginning. Via the parking lot in the center of Waldbreitbach, we reach the Westerwald-Steig on the marked access path after crossing the Wied.

For those still not satisfied, you can hike left via the St. Josefshaus monastery in Hausen over the Malberg towards Bad Hönningen or to the right to Roßbach and the "Roßbacher Häubchen" – a "boundless" hiking pleasure. Of course, it is also wonderfully possible to hike in the opposite direction, i.e., from Waldbreitbach to Rengsdorf. The KLOSTERWEG is accessible year-round in both directions.

Safety instructions

Please treat nature with care and be considerate of wild animals and other groups of guests.

For your own protection, watch out for falling branches or trees.

Equipment

Ankle-high hiking shoes are recommended; water bottle

Tips

Magnificent view from the monastery mountain terraces in the warming spring sun. Reservations 02638 81-3030

Literature

You can get the hiking map and guidebook in the Westerwald shop at www.westerwald-shop.info!

Destination

Parish church "Maria Himmelfahrt" Waldbreitbach and access path through Waldbreitbach to the Westerwald-Steig

Starting Point

St. Kastor Chapel Rengsdorf, Friedrich-Ebert-Straße