Hesse

Hesse is one of the 16 federal states and a parliamentary republic of the Federal Republic of Germany. Calculated by the number of inhabitants, the fifth largest country. On the northern side it borders on Lower Saxony, on the western side on North Rhine-Westphalia and Rhineland-Palatinate, on the eastern side on Bavaria and Thuringia and in the south on Baden-Württemberg.

In the year 1815, in which the Congress of Vienna took place, the Grand Duchy of Hesse, the Duchy of Nassau, the Electorate of Hesse, the Principality of Waldeck, the Free City of Frankfurt, the Landgraviate of Hesse-Homburg and the Rhine-Prussian area around Wetzlar existed in the area . Electoral Hesse, Hesse-Homburg, Frankfurt and Nassau were annexed by the Kingdom of Prussia in 1866 and renamed the Province of Hesse-Nassau. When the Weimar Republic ruled, the Grand Duchy was named the People's State of Hesse and in 1929 it became part of the Free State of Prussia. In 1944 the areas of Kurhessen and Nassau were divided.

As soon as the 2nd World War ended on the 19th. The province of Greater Hesse was founded in September 1945 and was the first to receive a new democratic constitution for the Federal Republic of Germany, which is still preserved today. The usual part of Hesse on the left bank of the Rhine now belongs to Rhineland-Palatinate.

In terms of geographical education, Hesse is populated on the Upper Rhine plain with low mountain ranges and forests. The part of the country in the south, with the cross-border Rhine-Main area, makes Darmstadt one of the most populated and economically strongest regions in Germany. Its state capital is Wiesbaden, the city with the most inhabitants is Frankfurt am Main. Darmstadt and Kassel are the other major cities, as well as Offenbach am Main and Hanau, since September 2021.

Mountains in Hesse

The landscape of Hesse consists of many low mountain ranges, such as Taunus, Rhön, Hoher Meißner, Rothaargebirge, Knüllgebirge, Vogelsberg, Gladenbacher Bergland, Westerwald, Kellerwald, Söhre, Kaufunger Wald, Stölzinger Gebirge, Habichtswald, Schlierbachswald, Odenwald, Spessart, Reinhardswald , Seulingswald and Richelsdorfer Mountains.

The highest peak in the country is on the Wasserkuppe at 950m. on the Rhön, which belongs to the Fulda district.

Hiking in Hesse

In Hesse there are simply fairytale routes on the northern part. North Hesse is the home of Grimm and here there are countless features of the fairy tales of the Brothers Grimm, e.g.b: the Sababurg Sleeping Beauty Castle in Reinhardswald or Hohe Meißner, where Mrs. Holle is said to live.

In this low mountain landscape, the region offers you a fairly varied mountain range and a variety of hiking routes. The Habichtswaldsteig runs z.b: on a distance of more than 85km. long route from Zierenberg to Edersee. The path leads through the Habichtswald Nature Park and shows hikers many landscape images. The stony rocks, secluded forests, juniper heaths and gentle green meadows have a varied structure.

You can also go hiking wonderfully in Hesse's only national park, Kellerwald-Edersee National Park. There you can also visit one of the beech forests, which are one of the few remaining large ones in Central Europe.

The 10 best hiking routes in Hesse

1. In the splendor of Hercules – Habichtswald

Our route begins on the Horstweg and we go up to the Höllchen. If you want, you can take a detour to the beautiful forest lake right at the beginning. Because we end our route here again, you can postpone it to an atmospheric conclusion. Below the forester's lodge Haide on the edge of the forest we walk past the unmanaged Igelsburg to the Silbersee. Here we always walk uphill accompanied by the “ancestor” on our left side. At the turnoff to Hercules we have a wonderful view of the high pastures that remind us of the alpine pastures. Because we don't want to hike to Hercules, we now walk briefly along the magnificent chestnut avenue and turn left at the first junction in the direction of “Loipenhaus”. Below the “Great Cairn” we have magnificent views of Hercules. We pass the area with the former entrance to the destroyed “Red Tunnel” and get closer to the highest point in the Habichtswald, the “Hohen Gras”. Here we are halfway along the route and can take a well-deserved rest at the Gasthaus zum hoch Grass.

But we don't stay long because there is still something to do on the way back, despite the constant downhill hike. Our next point with its huge television tower is the “Vinegar Mountain”. It formerly served as an ammunition depot. We walk past this in the direction of Dörnberg. At the next fork in the road we turn right and immediately turn left again. Using the “Wuhlhagen” marker, we go down to the Kaiserbuche tree, which has long fallen into disrepair, and see the Haide forester’s lodge. This time we are on the back side and our path leads us to the end. At the edge of the forest comes the asphalt road and we go to Dörnberg.

2. Thrones of the Landscape

The route starts at the train station below theSchauburg in the Hoof district. On the ascending path we go up to the ruins of theSchauburg. When we arrive at Thronen Platz we enjoy the view towards Weidelsburg. Then we go down the stairs and follow the path to the left and descend from the castle hill. We follow the cross path that meets us at the foot of theSchauburg to the left.

We walk over the small arch past the Hoof barbecue area and reach the beautiful meadow path on which we reach the allotment garden. Now we turn right and then immediately turn left again at the edge of the Schönberg, continuing in a westerly direction. A while later we turn right on the path and walk through the overgrown ravine. Soon the vegetation will become looser again and the view will be clear. We keep left and then straight ahead to climb the Schönberg. Halfway along the route we reach a small plateau and from here we continue uphill past the pasture fence along the meadow path. After we reach the hill, we are rewarded by the wonderful view.

On the way we disappear into the coniferous forest and pass another meadow downhill. We follow the diversion to the left and descend between the pastures and the edge of the forest again from Schönberg. Here we walk to the right on the dirt road and follow the path on a curve in the direction of Martinhagen.

After we have reached the state road, we turn briefly to the right, follow the road to the next junction and turn left onto a meadow path. Here we go to Martinhagen, turn left on the street and right again. Before we get to the farm, we turn left again and reach the leisure lake. If you have enough time, you can find a water treading area on the left above the lake, behind the barbecue area to the edge of the forest.

On an avenue of birch trees we come to Martinhagen, crossing the village along the church and the village square. Here you can take a short detour, which you can reach via the stairs along the church to the Martinstein natural monument. As soon as we cross the main road, we leave Martinhagen. After the last houses we turn right, reach a small, tranquil valley and take this path into the forest.

After a short hike, we reach the Hubertushütte and go over the stream to the right. We leave the paved path after a curve and go in the right direction onto the Wiesenfeldweg. Now there is a section that takes us through fields to a hill and then back into the valley. After crossing the road, we hike for a while between Breitenbach and Bad Emstal, cross the bridge, the railway tracks and then arrive back in the forest. We walk along fields again towards Breitenbach and cross another street here and follow the signs. After a stretch of tarmac we turn right and walk along the meadow path to the edge of the forest. When we arrive at the top, the path first takes us to the right into the forest, then past the Forsthaus Elmshagen turning point to the left and over a short climb to the left again. After Elmshagen we only have a short path ahead of us, which we reach through the forest, partly at the edge of the forest, and then arrive in Breitenbach. On the path we now follow the edge of the forest, which offers a beautiful view of the ruins of theSchauburg. Then we come along the Naumburger Kleinbahn, back to the train station in Hoof.

3. In the valley of the springs

Our route starts at the Parkhotel “Emstaler Höhe” on the upper side of the mineral thermal baths, near the rose garden, where we encounter the 200 different roses with their hearty scents. We cross under the bridge of the “Hessencourrier” museum railway on the northern edge of the Rosengarten. Here we turn left and walk parallel to the railway line to the edge of the forest. The path in front of us takes us to the right, up to the foot of the Erzeberg and then along the edge of the forest over to the Läuseküppel. Here we turn left in a northern direction to Mußlar, where there is a view of Falkenstein and Altenburg. The path leads us across the open field into the magical fir forest, which at its lower end takes us to the right onto the paved forest path. We cross the L3220 and the tracks from the Hessencourrier. After a few steps we pass the Ems, turn right along the edge of the forest, through the picturesque valley.

At the ponds and meadows with many grazing horses and cattle, we now take the path to the right up into the forest. In the deciduous forest, on shady paths, we go to a hill that is located between the Falkenstein and the Altenburg. The next path takes us to the right to the ring wall of the Altenburg, where the refuge invites us to take a break.

We leave the ring wall on the sharp left-hand bend and hike down to the parking lot at the foot of Altenburg. Here we have a very beautiful view of Niedenstein, the wide, hilly land of the Chatten and the Wichdorf district. Here we continue to the right over the Engelsruh downhill through the forest into the Ems valley. After we have crossed this again, we turn left onto the grass path and walk along the water. After we arrive at the next bridge, we cross the stream again and turn right on the footpath to Feriendorfstrasse. After approx.200m. We turn left onto Bergstrasse and shortly afterwards cross the Ems. Now we turn left and find ourselves on a historic circular hiking trail.

We walk along the old swimming pool, the tannery and the old terraced gardens on the southern slope in front of the old half-timbered facades and leave the Ems valley in the lower area via the footbridge to the right. Here we cross Merxhäuser Straße into Offenhäuser Weg and turn right towards Fischbach, which we pass there. Here we continue to the right and up the footpath in a left direction, along the old people's center, so that we reach the Tränkeweg. On a few steps we come downhill to the right to the Fischbach pond and walk along the left bank up into the spa gardens. We then walk past the mineral thermal baths back to the starting point.

4. On the cat's hump

We take the train to Zwingenberg am Neckar train station and start our route up the Katzenbuckel, the highest mountain in the Odenwald. We hike a few 100m. and reach the imposing Zwingenberg Castle, at the back of which we climb into the Wolfsschlucht. At just under 2km. We walk a long way through this beautiful nature of the gorge on the narrow paths overhanging with rocks, along the rushing stream. We then reach the community of Oberdielbach and hike on asphalt paths to the Katzenbuckel, which we can see from a long way away.

Coming past Katzenbuckel Lake, we hike along the crystal nature trail to the observation tower on the Katzenbuckel. We can enjoy the wonderful view of the Odenwald and the Hohenloher Land. Now we walk downhill and admire the panorama again at the Königstuhl view and walk through the forest to the Eberbach castle ruins. After the visit, we walk to the town center of Eberbach and can take a break here in a cafe of our choice.

3 museums and the Neckartal-Odenwald Nature Park Center are places that you should visit in Eberbach. Our hike ends here and you are free to choose where to continue.

5. The Münnerstadt circular route

We start in the center of Münnerstadt and take the path to the left of the B 19 out of the valley. Now we follow the tarred path to the valley water bridge. On the right side we come to the junction of the hiking trail, which is marked at the stream. We cross under the railway bridge and, after the curve on the tar road, turn right towards the forest (approx.150m. behind the railway line). Here a barrier clearly blocks the path that leads us uphill in a left-hand curve. We stop after approx.100m. right and go approx.200m. straight ahead

The path runs approx.200m. Left arch to the left over 2 steps steeply uphill through the forest. Just as you reach the top, the path turns to the right in an arc. We can already see the Hainberg watchtower here and walk past the ridge, continuing on the comfortable forest path through the juniper heath.

At the top we turn right to the high forest and follow the edge of the forest to the left. As soon as we are 200m. After hiking, we turn right on the hiking trail according to the blue triangle to Bad Kissingen. Now we go straight past the picture oak tree. Shortly afterwards the path leads back into the forest and climbs to a small hill. When we arrive at the forest path, we turn right and reach it after 100m. the further forest path and follow it downhill to the left. We leave this path after approx.800m. Steeply uphill at right angles to the top, cross the forest path at the top and enter the “Frau” forest section.

Across a serpentine path we reach the so-called in a straight direction. “Dark Ground”, the valley cut. We follow the forest path down through the valley floor, cross the crossroads straight ahead to the next section of path, which could be overgrown in summer. When we leave the forest, we come to a railway embankment that blocks our view. Therefore we go to the right, continue on the upper side to the underpass and then go left down to the Talhof. Here we continue the hike on the path into the valley to the left, on the valley floor, after approx.2km. the valley church and come on the way to Münnerstadt.

6. Three Castles Hiking Trail

We start our hike at the Krebs bakery in Beilstein and leave the town. Immediately we see the highest mountain at 515m. Raise the “Hinnstein”. The path takes us further to Greifenstein and we can see Greifenstein Castle right at the beginning of the route. On the Greifenstein we have a wonderful view of the upper Dilltal and, a little further, the lower Dilltal.

Going through an archway, we reach Greifenstein Castle, where we can enjoy a beautiful view of the old Wetzlar district when the weather is good. From the castle we take a forest nature trail, along the disused Quartzitt quarry, to the Ulmbach dam. From this barrier we continue in the direction of Holzhausen and follow the route through the town until we finally get back to the dam. On the path that leads us to the starting point, we pass an old railway bridge of the former “Balkan Express”, the castle church and the castle. After we cross the Beilstein basalt park, we are back at the starting point. at the end of the route.

7. The Hilderser

The destination of this “day tour with the highest quality” has been awarded the hiking seal and received a very good rating of 50 points, making it one of the best hiking routes in Hesse. The premium route offers 12km. always offers something new and shows hiking fans the most beautiful sides of Hilders.

At the starting point in Battenstein we go to the summit cross of the Buch Schirmberg, from where we can enjoy the impressive view of the Ulstertal, the Kuppenrhön and Milseburg. Past the Rhönklubhütte Simmershausen, we take the comfortable paths to the next highlight of the route. Namely the Auersburg ruins, which were built in the 12th century.century was built. She lies all alone in the forest. The still upright, mighty remains of the outer wall and the covered seating invite us to take a break. The small viewing pavilion on this outer wall has a wonderful view. We return to the starting point through the Auersberg forest on the romantic Ritterschlucht.

8. From Landwehrhagen to Rothwesten

The route starts at the Rathaus Landwehrhagen bus stop. From here we walk north on Hannoversche Straße and turn left onto Rundehofer Straße. After we approx.150m. Continuing, we hike to the street Zum Ickelsbach on the right and then turn left towards Ickelsbachtal. Heading towards the forest, we descend to the Ickelsbach and cross the Ickelsbach on the coming bridge. Then we continue left on the opposite side, slightly uphill. After a short while we arrive at a forest path and turn left downhill. Here we can see historical boundary stones along the way.

Along a freshly filled area, we leave the forest path and descend to the left until we reach the next forest path. We cross under the ICE railway line on an asphalt road and come back to the Ickelsbach, which we cross and immediately climb to the left. Continuing steeply uphill we reach the next forest path, on which we follow uphill to the right. Now we come to an intersection and turn right downhill. Here we reach the country road from Landwehrhagen, which leads to Spiekershausen. We follow this briefly so that we can descend to the right in the direction of Gut Rundehof to the Fulda dam. Here we cross the Kassel-Hannoversch Münden railway line and turn after 100m. From the asphalted road turn right onto the forest path, in the direction of Wahnhausen. Now we cross the dam wall and climb up to the forest on the opposite side of the road. At the edge of the forest we turn right in front of the bushes into the forest and turn left at the first houses in Wahnhausen up the forest road. It goes behind the isolated shed in the right direction, between the fields. Then we go slightly downhill over the Dicker Kopf summit and then soon turn right. We walk along the asphalt road after 200m. to the left and immediately right. Through an oak avenue, after 300m. we go left to the Knickhagen-Rothwesten road. Then turn left on the country road in the direction of Rothwesten into the town and now along Eichenberger Straße to the intersection at Reinhardswaldstraße, where our hike comes to an end.

9. Briloner Kammweg

Our route starts on the Brilon market square in front of the town hall and we go left past the market square into Derkere Straße. At the tourist information office, after approx.200m. We turn left into Niedere Straße and cross Gartenstraße at the pedestrian traffic light, where we then turn into the Heinrich-Jansen-Weg district house park.

At the district hall we keep right and come to the Drübel nature reserve. After passing through the area, the Briloner Kammweg route begins and we keep left in the direction of Bauernladen. We walk past the youth hostel and the golf course to the Landgasthof Gruss, where we then head towards the forest fairy path. The path takes us past the Jick Jack Mühle hiking car park, in the direction of Bremecketal, further to Teufelsgrund and uphill to Huckeshohl on the upper path in the village of Bontkirchen.

Now we go over the NRW/Hesse state border to the Hoher Eimberg, which with its 805.5m. Height is the highest mountain in the Brilon urban area. After we get there, we go downhill again to Willingen and through the town past the Ritzhagen ski lift, up to the execution site. The path, which runs parallel to the Rothaarsteig, leads us to Bruchhausen, past the Bruchhauser Steinen to the Feuereiche, opposite the L743.

We then follow the paths to the spectacular views of the Ginsterkopf and Habberg. If this part is too steep for you, you can walk from the Feuereiche on the gentler hiking trail X2 to the left. We then pass the wayside shrine of St. Antonius and arrive at Borberg, which is steeped in history. Here we walk past the chapel and the excavations, go downhill in the direction of the Hiebammen Hut. The path there takes us further to Petersborn and into the Briloner Bürgerwald via the Kyrill Gate. Past the Möhnequelle, we continue to Brilon and along the hospital over Hoppecker Straße. From here we take the familiar path back to the starting point on the Brilon market square.

10. From Reichelsheim to Lautertal

Our hiking route starts at the Reichelsheim junction and we head north, leaving Reichelsheim behind us in the south. Just before Fränkisch Crumbach we turn sharply to the left and hike across the forest at the level of the hamlet. On the back side of the next hill, we cross the small country road and can already hear the saber rattling of the legendary Rodenstein army.

Here we roam through the Rodenstein castle ruins and hike approx.150m. to the north, turn sharp left and continue uphill through the Rodensteiner Burgwald. At the rear edge of the “Falling Bach” natural monument, the Alemannenweg loops to the right and takes us around the Germannshöhe. We then continue along the wine trail to Neunkircher Höhe and overcome another 90 meters in altitude.

As soon as we have had our short break or picnic at the foot of the Imperial Tower, we accept the challenge and climb up to the tower. When the weather is good, we look across the entire Odenwald to the Hunsrück, Spessart, Taunus and the Palatinate.

The descent now takes place around the Neunkircher Höhe in a northerly direction through the forest and after a while we arrive at the Modau source in a wide left bend. This beautiful place is perfect for refreshment or a short break. After the break we hike approx.1km. to the north, where the forest opens up before us. We now cross country road 3399 in the open countryside and reach the houses in the Lützelbach district of Modautal. After we have hiked through Lützelbach, we turn left on Brunnenweg and leave the town via the field in the northwest. Along the edge of the forest, we pass through meadows and fields past the Brandau cemetery and the sewage treatment plant. Here we cross district road 69 on the left and see the cultural monument “Am Kreuz”. After approx.400m. The Alemannenweg turns right, so after another 1.5km. can bend to the right again.

We walk into Beedenkirchen on Hechlergasse and cross it to the left on Wilhelmsstraße. At the end of this street we turn left into Reichenbacher Straße and walk along this street for approx.200m. in a southwesterly direction, where we turn right on the small asphalt path and go straight on to the “Römersteine” hiking car park.

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