Kroppach Switzerland

Pure nature!

Welcome to Kroppach Switzerland –

a hidden gem in the Westerwald! On the lower part of the Nister, below the charming village of Kroppach, stretches the landscape conservation area of the same name, which inspires with its breathtaking nature. The region around the towns of Astert, Idelberg, Limbach, Heimborn, Helmeroth, Heuzert and Stein-Wingert has numerous interesting excursion destinations and exciting sights in store for you. There is something for every taste and every weather condition!

Let yourself be enchanted by the magnificent Marienstatt Abbey. Today, the well-known pilgrimage site is considered one of the spiritual and cultural centres of the Westerwald. The first Gothic church in Germany on the right bank of the Rhine, built by the monks, is an admirable work of art. Inside you will find one of the oldest choir stalls still in use in Germany, the miraculous image of the "Sorrowful Mother of God" and the large Rieger organ.

A hiking and cycling experience for nature lovers.

Whether you are a passionate nature lover, hiker or cyclist - a visit to Kroppach Switzerland is an absolute must! With countless hiking and cycling trails, a varied adventure in the middle of nature awaits you. A special tip is the hike on the Weltende nature trail or a bike tour on the Nister cycle path to the so-called "German Corner" of the Westerwald. Here, in the heart of Kroppach Switzerland, the small and large nests meet and offer an idyllic place for a rest. On hot summer days, you can refresh your feet in the cool water and enjoy the peace and quiet of nature. Experience an unforgettable hiking and cycling tour through the picturesque Westerwald nature - we look forward to your visit!

Highlights in Kroppach Switzerland

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Marienstatt

Cistercian abbey Marienstatt

Kroppacher Switzerland - circular route from Marienstatt

Right from the start we look forward to our stay in the beautifully landscaped monastery complex of the Cistercian Abbey of Marienstatt at the end of our tour. First we follow the Druidensteig hiking trail through fairytale forests and reach the historic roof slate pit Assberg. It consists of an opencast mine approx. 240 m long and approx. 70 m wide as well as a mine 20 m underground that is easily accessible via stairs. If you want, you can descend deep into the earth's interior. We continue to the tranquil village of Limbach, where the lovingly designed village museum is waiting for our visit. In Limbach we say goodbye to the Druidensteig and continue walking on the famous WesterwaldSteig, always along the Nister. Soon we will reach Marienstatt again and marvel at the neo-Gothic church before we relax in the peaceful cloister garden or in the brewery.

Kroppacher Switzerland - End of the World Nature Trail

Where is the end of the world? We're looking forward to a spectacular tour that demands surefootedness and fitness even from experienced hikers. First we follow the End of the World Path across colorful meadows along the Nister until we cross the river at a narrow bridge. But soon the adventure begins and the path leads us up a steep slope and becomes narrower and narrower. Happy to have chosen the sturdy hiking boots, we put one foot in front of the other on the path, which is partly cut in the middle of the rock. The wire ropes fastened in the rock come in handy for the alpine route. After we have made the ascent, we are rewarded with a magnificent view over the Nistertal. We are happy to take a seat on the benches and enjoy the impressive panorama during a break. After the rest, we make our way back lively and pass the towns of Flögert and Altenburg.

Kroppacher Switzerland - Limbacher Runde "Valley of the Great Nisters"

We start at the Haus des Gastes in Limbach and soon reach the publicly accessible, medieval roof slate pit Assberg. We hike through beautiful deciduous forests down into the valley of the Great Nister, where the Cistercian Marienstatt Abbey with its early Gothic basilica, the romantic cloister garden and the Marienstatter brewery await us. Via the monastery walk we reach the Imperial Cemetery and start the ascent to the "Schöne Aussicht" lookout point. Here the name says it all and we are impressed not only overlook the entire monastery complex, but also see the castle of the medieval town of Hachenburg in the distance. We continue to the picturesque village of Astert and from here we follow the Great Nister until shortly before Heuzert. We climb the Hartenberg with another spectacular vantage point and then start the way back past the Lützelauer Mühle, where the Kleine Nister awaits us and leads us along the wild and romantic Heunig cave path to Limbach.

Kroppacher Switzerland - Limbacher Runde "German Corner of the Westerwald"

Starting from the Haus des Gastes in Limbach, we cross the Kleine Nister over the old Limbach stone arch bridge and then pass the village museum, which is well worth seeing. On our way through the forest we enjoy the intense experience of nature and listen to the chirping of the birds. In order to experience a rambling view of the beautiful Kroppacher Schweiz, we don't miss a detour to the Hartenberg lookout point. We soon reach the valley of the Großer Nister and cross it immediately via Wilhelmsteg. Now we relax and follow the river that leads us straight to the "German Corner of the Westerwald". We linger a little at this romantic spot before we follow the Kleine Nister and return to Limbach past the Lützelauer Mühle.

Marienstatt - monastery walk

We start our little walk at the famous Cistercian Abbey of Marienstatt. The abbey was founded in 1222 by Cistercian monks in the valley of the Great Nister. It is a sacred place and a spiritual hub for the region. The surrounding landscape is shaped by the history and economic activity of the Cistercian monks. The beauty of the Nistertal valley and the diversity of nature make Marienstatt and the surrounding cultural landscape particularly attractive. We discover this landscape on our circular route and learn more about the work of the monks at that time. At seven stations we learn a variety of topics about the history of the Marienstatter monastery, cultural landscape and nature. After the walk we let our soul dangle in the beautiful monastery garden and enjoy the splendor of the flowers.

Explore also

the other natural areas that the Hachenburg Westerwald has to offer.

Luftbildaufnahme vom Dreifelder Weiher

Westerwald Lake District

© Andreas Pacek | Westerwald Touristik Service (CC BY SA 4.0, https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/)

Upper Wiedtal

Luftbild Schloss Hachenburg mit Sonnenaufgangn

City of Hachenburg