Erlebnisweg Sieg | Hexenweg | Friesenhagen

Description

A few hundred years ago, the Wildenburger Land with the Friesenhagen parish was a stronghold of witch hunts. Sights along the way such as the Red Chapel or the Wildenburg are witnesses to this dark time. The varied route leads over the heights of the Wildenburger Land, through dense forests and the idyllic village of Friesenhagen with its charming half-timbered houses.

Approach

A4, exit 27 Eckenhagen, to Friesenhagen

Public transport

Line 265 (VRM) (Freudenberg – Friesenhagen – Wissen), stop at Crottorf Castle junction (from here it is a 975 m walk to the starting point at Crottorf Castle)

Line 265 (VRM) (Freudenberg – Friesenhagen – Wissen), stop at Friesenhagen Festival Square; and direct access to the Witches’ Trail from the corner of Hauptstrasse/Klosterstrasse

Line 298 (VRM) (Freudenberg – Friesenhagen), stop at Friesenhagen Festival Square; and direct access to the Witches’ Trail from the corner of Hauptstrasse/Klosterstrasse

Parking

Parking spaces at the Friesenhagen sports field (Sankt-Anna-Weg and at the end of Klosterstraße, 51598 Friesenhagen)

Important note: The parking lot at the Landgasthof Wildenburger Hof is no longer available for hikers!

Directions

From the parking lots at the sports field in Friesenhagen, the red and white adventure trail markings of the Witches' Trail first lead you down Klosterstrasse to the baroque church of St. Sebastianus. The trail continues through the village and along the main road for a short distance, then branches off past stations of the cross and through the forest to the Chapel of the Cross on the Schnabelberg. It is privately owned and is considered one of the most beautiful and best-preserved moated castles in the Rhineland. Before you cross the Wildenburger Bach stream, a literary surprise awaits: the American conceptual artist Jenny Holzer has immortalized herself here with a poem in a cave.You continue along the moat, cross the road, past the Landgasthof Wildenburger Hof and from here a steep climb into the woods around Friesenhagen. After a short ascent, a wide, easily accessible forest path opens up. An asphalted road takes you over the Nädringer Bach stream, then a rustic country lane winds its way along the edge of the forest up the Rollsberg. At the Rochus Chapel, the wide view invites you to take a break. With a view of the Wildenburg, you walk down a quiet little road into the valley. Crossing the Wildenburg stream, you reach Ziegenschlade on a gently ascending forest path, and now it is only a stone's throw up to the Blumenberg and the Red Chapel, which was built around 1690 to commemorate the Wildenburg witch trials. The “witches' lime tree”, which is over 400 years old, was destroyed by a storm in 2021. Via a meadow path of the so-called Blumenberg, you first reach the street “Zur Linde” and then directly back to your starting point at the sports field.

Safety instructions

In the winter months, the quality of the trail may be impaired due to logging work on individual sections of the trail. If you feel that certain sections of the trail are not suitable for you, you should avoid them. In adverse weather conditions, natural trails can become muddy and slippery. In autumn in particular, you should be aware that leaves lying on the ground can cover bumps, roots, stones or holes in the trail. You must expect this type of impairment to the trail when you go hiking. Although the trail is very well marked throughout, you should always have a suitable hiking map with you for safety reasons.

Equipment

Sturdy shoes and clothing suitable for the weather

Tips

Installation by conceptual artist Jenny Holzer in a cave by the Wildenburger Bach stream near Crottorf Castle.

Destination

Parking lots at the Friesenhagen sports field (Sankt-Anna-Weg and at the end of Klosterstraße, 51598 Friesenhagen)

Starting Point

Parking lots at the Friesenhagen sports field (Sankt-Anna-Weg and at the end of Klosterstraße, 51598 Friesenhagen)