Weyerbusch - AK-Bike Route 2 "Watershed Between Wied and Sieg"

Description

The short bike route leads us along paved paths into the Mehrbach valley, where landscape-related artworks by various artists can also be found. On foot, you can explore this valley landscape "IN THE VALLEY" for a small fee.

Behind the district of Ochsenbruch, we then ride up to the regional watershed, the Leuscheider Straße. West of the road, all water flows to the Wied and reaches the Rhine in Neuwied. East of the road, falling rain reaches the Sieg and only empties into the Rhine north of Bonn.

Before descending to Marenbach, there is also the opportunity for conditioned cyclists to make a small detour to Rimbach or Irsen – great old half-timbered houses, an old water mill in Mittelirsen, or the old forge Friedenthal can be admired here.
Our route, on the other hand, leads through Marenbach and back up to the B8. Via the bike path, we quickly reach the starting point Weyerbusch, where we can enjoy our well-deserved final meal.

Approach

The starting point is directly on the B8.

Parking

Public, free parking directly at Hotel Sonnenhof, Kölner Str. 33, 57635 Weyerbusch

Directions

The bike circular route is signposted only in one direction, as this route is more advantageous for the cyclist than the opposite direction.
From the Sonnenhof parking lot, we soon reach the Mehrbach valley. The Mehrbach was formerly the site of numerous water mills. Here at Hasselbach and Werkhausen, mills were once driven by the brook.

We now go through the "Valley of Art" to Werkhausen. In this valley landscape, more than 50 artists have created landscape-related artworks and made them accessible to the public on a private area of over 10 hectares. A walking tour through this

landscape garden (duration approx. 3 hours) begins at the first bridge on Leinger Weg. Guided tours are possible by appointment (Tel. 02686 604, Fax 02686 8139).

Behind Werkhausen we reach Ochsenbruch, from where it now climbs to about 320 meters elevation. Here we now reach Leuscheider Straße and thus the watershed of this region. Because here you leave the catchment area of the Mehrbach (which leads to the Wied valley) and enter on the left at the forester’s house the Irsen brook valley area, whose water already feeds the Sieg.

Before the route bends right to Marenbach at the edge of the forest, we enjoy the view into Siegerland. Conditioned cyclists are recommended from here to take a small detour down into the Irsen brook valley (approx. 100 meters elevation on a distance of approx. 4 km). Through a deeply cut hollow way, one reaches the idyllic village of Rimbach, with its partly very old and restored half-timbered houses.

Further downhill it goes to Mittelirsen and Niederirsen, where there is an opportunity to see one of the few old mills from the 18th century, which has been restored and is still fully functional. The old forge Friedenthal can also be found here (the way there is not signposted, however).

The signposted route leads through Marenbach and past the Eschemann organic farm. At the B8, you then reach Weyerbusch again on the left side bike path. In Weyerbusch, Friedrich Wilhelm Raiffeisen began his great social work as mayor in the hunger years 1846/47 and founded the "Weyerbusch Bread Association."
From this first "self-help organization," the well-known Raiffeisen cooperative association later developed.

Shortly behind the Weyerbusch church, we reach the new Raiffeisen meeting center on the left, with the historic bakehouse and the restored old mayor's office, which recall this time.

Tips

In Werkhausen, there is a small hiking route "Path of the Senses". Highly recommended for families with children.

Literature

Topographic map 1:25,000, Sheet 1, Northern Westerwald, 5th edition 2015, cost: 3,- Euro

(available through the VG Altenkirchen-Flammersfeld or in the UNIKUM regional shop, Altenkirchen)

Destination

Parking at Hotel Sonnenhof, Kölner Str. 33, 57635 Weyerbusch

Starting Point

Parking at Hotel Sonnenhof, Kölner Str. 33, 57635 Weyerbusch