Westerwald

Regional Overview

The Nassau Inheritance

The Westerwald, i.e., “Western Forest,” is a nebulous region that refers to the agglomeration of lands ruled mainly by various branches of the Nassau Family. The rugged forest and hilly landscape largely precluded meaningful settlement until the 19th century, and today remains dominated by the ancient urban centers on the Lahn River. Like Hessen, it is a land of myth, full of beautiful towns and traces of an ancient past.

Regional Identity

What to Lookout For

  • The late Romanesque churches in the Middle-Rhine style.
  • The Nassau seats of power and the Baroque and Classical architecture used to symbolize it.
  • The medieval cityscapes of Limburg, Herborn, and Wetzlar.

C

C+

C

C

What is the Westerwald?

The Lahn river possesses one of the most beautiful valleys in Germany. Its densely forested river banks, adorned with cliffside castles and monasteries, are taken straight out of a fairy tale or video game. Travel up the river by boat, and from the mist, you will see the soaring spires of Limburg cathedral or the monastery of Dietkirchen. Travel further to the inspiring walls of the Nassau palaces in Weilburg, or Runkel will rise straight from the water. One of the most underrated regions to visit in Germany.

Regional Overview

Hiking in the Region

Hiking: Kransberg Palace

Hiking: Kransberg Palace

The Kransberg palace is a 19th-century villa constructed on the ruins of a medieval castle and today is in private ownership. However, it provides for some picturesque viewpoints. This hike…

Hiking: Taunus Panorama

Hiking: Taunus Panorama

This hike offers something of an introduction to the landscape of the Tanus. Walking between rolling fields, meadows, dense forest, and half-timbered homes, this portion of the Westerwald offers a…

Hiking: Along the Limes and Westwall

Hiking: Along the Limes and Westwall

in the first century CE, the Romans pushed their border out past the Rhine as far as the hills of the Taunus. The name Taunus comes from the Romans and…

Hiking: The Crystal Caverns of Weilburg

Hiking: The Crystal Caverns of Weilburg

The forests of the Westerwald sit above the remnants of ancient volcanic activity, and the rolling landscape varies between hard basalt bedrock and tuff or limestone layers. The varied geology…

My Quantitative Travel Rankings

To understand where the categories come from, see this article here.

Social Score

4.3 / 10

The score is based on the following:

  • Hype: 1.3
  • Growth: 1.5
  • Wealth: 7.2
  • Recognition: 5.6
Ease of Travel

4.5 / 10

The score is based on the following:

  • Accommodation: 2.7
  • Transportation: 4.6
  • Ease of Planning: 7.3
  • Infrastructure: 4.8
  • Interactivity: 5.6
  • Airport: No
Historical Immersion

4.3 / 10

The score is based on the following:

  • Historical Context: 1.9
  • Monuments: 3.9
  • Quality*: 6.0
  • Landscape: 8.1
  • Vineyards: 3.2
Authenticity

4.0 / 10

The score is based on the following:

  • Undiscovered: 2.1
  • Cultural Immersion: 7.0
  • Tradition*: 2

Navigation

Hessen-Nassau

A land of sleepy half-timbered towns and ancient castles

Leave a Reply