WesterwaldSteig 09th stage Hachenburg - Limbach (East-West)

Description

At the beginning of our hike, you enjoy the cozy atmosphere on the Old Market in the medieval town of Hachenburg and pass the Landscape Museum, which gives you an insight into life in the Westerwald in long past times. You hike down narrow paths to the "small Holzbach gorge" – always with the cheerful babbling of the stream in your ear. Along the Nister, you reach the Nistermühle, where Konrad Adenauer found refuge during the Second World War. Soon you arrive at the well-known Cistercian abbey Marienstatt. After visiting the neo-Gothic basilica, you can enjoy the peaceful tranquility of the monastery garden before heading to your stage destination Limbach.

Approach

From the south: via the B8 to Höchstenbach and then continue on the B413 towards Hachenburg

From the north: via the B414 to the Hachenburg exit

Public transport

Arrival by public transport

Train from Cologne or Limburg to Hachenburg stop

Train to ICE station Montabaur, bus to Hachenburg Market (located directly on the WesterwaldSteig): Bus line 420 (Monday to Friday, travel time approx. 1 hour)

Return to the stage start

Return from Limbach to Hachenburg: a few connections with bus line 410 (Monday to Friday, travel time approx. 15 minutes)

Limbach bus stop: Limbach (There is no marked access path to the main route, but it is only a few hundred meters away from the bus stop).
Hachenburg bus stop: Hachenburg train station (from here, an approx. 300 m long access path leads to the main route)

Alternatively, a taxi is recommended for the return journey.

Taxi recommendations:

Hehn-Touristik, Alpenrod, Tel. 02662/3366

Taxi Schmidt GbR, Hachenburg, Tel. 02662/6119

Taxi Uwe Bischoff, Hachenburg, Tel. 02662/944444

Here you can find more hiking route tips with bus and train connections.

Parking

Hachenburg: Westerwald Landscape Museum (Leipziger Str. 1)

Limbach: House of Guests (Hardtweg 3)

Directions

Through the old town and the castle garden of Hachenburg, the WesterwaldSteig leaves the town, crosses the railway line, and once again offers a wonderful view of the Siebengebirge. The path then leads down steps through the second Holzbach gorge on the WesterwaldSteig, over the Nister, and along the village of Nister towards Nistermühle, near which the river is crossed again. At Nistermühle, a Konrad Adenauer memorial plaque points to his brief hiding place during the Nazi era. Following the Nister, you soon reach the Marienstatt Monastery. The monastic community has a good reputation in the Nister valley. From 1476, the Marienstatt Monastery, founded in the 12th century, was opened to laypeople on three days at the request of the Counts of Sayn. This was the beginning of pilgrimage in this area. The Marienwanderweg between the Marienstatt and Marienthal monasteries originated in this period. Today, the monastery has a brewery with a beer garden as well as a hiking parking lot and attracts many people, especially on weekends. Passing the Marien beeches, the Marien oak, and finally the historically significant Meiler oak, you reach another viewpoint about 200 meters above Marienstatt. Via Streithausen, the WesterwaldSteig reaches the Kleine Nister, which stays close to the path until Limbach. In Limbach, there is a village museum to visit and several restaurants to explore.

Access paths (marking: green W on yellow background):

• from the center of Hachenburg to the train station (approx. 0.3 km)
• from Marienstatt Monastery to Müschenbach (approx. 1.3 km) and to the Hattert train stop (approx. 2.4 km)
• from Streithausen to the Atzelgift community center (approx. 0.4 km)

Safety instructions

If you think certain sections of the paths are impassable for you, you should avoid them. Especially in adverse weather conditions, natural paths can become muddy and slippery.

Especially in autumn, be aware that leaves lying on the ground can cover unevenness, roots, stones, or holes in the path. You should expect such path impairments when hiking.

Although the path is very well marked throughout, for safety reasons you should always carry a suitable hiking map or download the free "Experience Rhineland-Palatinate" app.

Equipment

Wear sturdy footwear and weather-appropriate, practical clothing that protects against cold and moisture or heat and sun.

Take enough fluids with you. Refreshment options are not available everywhere.

Please wear appropriate hiking boots that offer sufficient support even on slippery, steep, rocky, and uneven paths.

Tips

After your hike, visit the Tourist Information in Hachenburg and receive a Westerwald herbal bitter liqueur for free!

Literature

Leporello hiking map WesterwaldSteig at a scale of 1:25,000

Order at www.westerwald-shop.info.

Destination

Limbach

Starting Point

Hachenburg, Westerwald Landscape Museum