Fernwanderweg
Wäller Tour Greifenstein loop - overall - Herborn
Route profile
Notice
In the tour planner we inform you under the tab "Current info" about temporary route changes, closures and detours.
To the Tour Planer
Description
Starting from Herborn, the path leads us past the villages of Merkenbach and Fleisbach up to Greifenstein. There we can see the dominant hilltop castle in a spectacular location with its unique silhouette. From Greifenstein, we pass the ruins of Lichtenstein Castle to the beautifully situated Ulmbach reservoir, which invites you to swim in the summer. The next stage takes us to a scenic highlight in the forest above Nenderoth, where you can find the Nenderoth waterfall. A big name for the small Leyenbach, which here cascades over some rocks. With good water levels—mainly in spring and autumn—the waterfall creates a picturesque backdrop. The final stage of the Greifenstein loop takes us past the Krombachtalsperre back to the Westerwald-Steig at Rehe. From here the route can be continued as a circular hike towards the Fuchskaute and back to the starting point in Herborn.
Approach
From south or north: via the A45 to exit 27 Herborn-Süd towards Herborn/Gladenbach/Sinn/Greifenstein
From east or west: via the B255 towards Herborn
Public transport
Bus/train to Herborn (Hessen) central bus station, then continue with line 502 to the "Wellenbad" stop,
approximately 350 m walk to the Gutshof (www.vld-wetzlar.de)
Parking
Free of charge: Gasthaus Brauerei & Hotel Gutshof, Im Gutshof 1, 35745 Herborn
Directions
Starting from Herborn, the path leads us past the villages of Merkenbach and Fleisbach up to Greifenstein. There we can see the dominant hilltop castle in a spectacular location with its unique silhouette. Greifenstein Castle is the widely visible landmark of the region. Here, the Bell World of Greifenstein Castle with almost 50 bells invites us on an insightful journey through a thousand years of German bell history. Friends and connoisseurs of sacred architecture will also come to their own on Greifenstein, as one of the few double churches in Germany is located on the castle grounds.
From Greifenstein, we pass the ruins of Lichtenstein Castle to the beautifully situated Ulmbach reservoir, which invites you to swim in the summer. Further along, the Greifenstein loop leads us up to Rodenroth. Behind the town, we cross the Rasenberg, from where, in good weather, you can enjoy a great view as far as the Feldberg in the Taunus.
The next stage takes us to a scenic highlight in the forest above Nenderoth, where you can find the Nenderoth waterfall. A big name for the small Leyenbach, which here cascades over some rocks. With good water levels—mainly in spring and autumn—the waterfall creates a picturesque backdrop. In winter, during extended freezing periods, the Nenderoth waterfall turns into a natural ice sculpture.
Following the path further, we reach the Hahrehausen nature reserve above Arborn, where we find the Adolf Weiss monument. The local poet Adolf Weiss was the creator of the Westerwald greeting “Hui!” “Wäller?” “Allemol!”. The final stage of the Greifenstein loop takes us past the Krombachtalsperre back to the WesterwaldSteig at Rehe. From here, the route can be continued as a circular hike towards the Fuchskaute and back to the starting point in Herborn.
Equipment
Hiking boots
Weather-appropriate, functional clothing
Tips
Visit Greifenstein Castle with its famous Bell World. The castle can be reached via a marked approach path. Admission is €4.00.
Additional information
A hiking map and guide to the Wäller Tours are available in the Westerwald Shop.
Video "5 Weeks/5 Trails - Greifenstein loop"
Video "5 Weeks/5 Trails - Visiting Greifenstein Castle"
Literature
Hiking map leaflet Wäller Tours, GPS-accurate hiking map with excursion destinations, dining & leisure tips, street names and elevation profiles, map size (W x H): 20 map pages of 18 x 20 cm, 9 edit pages, €6.95 - The hiking map and the book are available in the Westerwald Shop at www.westerwald-shop.info!
Destination
Herborn, Gasthaus Brauerei & Hotel Gutshof, Im Gutshof
Starting Point
Herborn, Gasthaus Brauerei & Hotel Gutshof, Im Gutshof
More information & GPX download
Notice
In the tour planner we inform you under the tab "Current info" about temporary route changes, closures and detours.
To the Tour Planer