Lahn: laid-back tour

The laid-back bicycle tour

The charming Lahn valley will convince you in no time to take this very pleasurable bike trip. Every day, you will follow the forests with their profound green colors, the juicy meadows, the mighty castles and the romantic towns drawing your attention with their beautiful half-timbered architecture. On its course of historical and mystical meaningfulness, the silvery band of the Lahn takes you to the fairy tale country of the Brothers Grimm. The high number of students in Marburg and Gießen add to the very lively flair of the university towns. In Wetzlar, Weilburg or Limburg, the narrow streets invite make you want to walk around the picturesque towns in their half-timbered style. Bad Ems, a spa town, will guarantee your well-being! On this trip, there will be enough time for all kinds of activities!

1. day Lahnquelle arrival

You will spend the night in the direct neighbourhood of the Lahns spring, at the cozy Landhotel. (For those who arrive by train, a pick-up service is available at the train station of Feudingen.)

2. day Lahnquelle - Biedenkopf 30 km

The first day spent on your bikes will seem to pass in no time. Starting from the Lahns spring, you will roll through a green, wooded landscape via Feudingen to Bad Laasphe and from there on past ancient half-timbered farmyards to Biedenkopf. Romantic narrow streets in the Old-town by the castles hill and the Landgraves Castle itself, built in the middle of the 15th century by Henry III. of Hessen-Marburg wait to impress you here. It is today one of the most important cultural monuments in Hessen!

3. day Biedenkopf - Marburg 39 km

Your next stage will take you through the widening Lahn valley to the Otto-Ubbekohde-museum in Sarnau. A short break is especially worthwhile here as Otto Ubbelohde is famous for his pencilled drawings serving as printers copies for illustrations printed with the fairy tales of the Brothers Grimm. Just a few kilometres from here lies Marburg, seat of the its traditional university since the early 16th century. You should absolutely visit the famous Elisabeths Church and the Landgraves castle. Let the fabulous flair of the Old-town capture you and enjoy the international restaurants and the cozy pubs during the evening hours.

4. day Marburg - Gießen 34 km

Saying goodbye to the fascinating Marburg is not easy! But the route on flat trails to Gießen is absolutely enjoyable and lets you look forward to the next stop. This will be the Mathematikum of Gießen, the first mathematic do-it-yourself-museum worldwide. More than 120 displayed pieces offer a new approach to mathematics. Regardless of age and knowledge, every visitor can tempt his own experiments: Putting together puzzles, building bridges, heating up your minds with tricky riddles, watching ball races, standing in a giant soap coat and much more. Let the surprise get you!

5. day Gießen - Wetzlar 21 km

After strengthening yourself with a rich cyclists breakfast, you will reach Wetzlar already soon in the morning. Don't miss to visit the Old-town! The next stop will be the visitors mine Grube Fortuna. You will have the unique chance to catch a breath-taking look into the deepness of the earth. Ancient mine workers traditions are filled with life again; you will get inside views into a world that will surely fascinate you. On a 50-minute guided tour you will witness how ore mining was accomplished back in the days with the original machines.

6. day Wetzlar - Weilburg 32 km

The first kilometres of the day will be accomplished in no time. You will never forget the beautiful landscape seaming your way to Weilburg, where the Renaissance-style castle lies on a plateau elevated high above the Lahn. Take a guided tour around the castle, enjoy a cup of coffee in the castles garden and visit Germanys only boat tunnel finished in 1847 and shortening a wide loop the Lahn river takes here.

7. day Weilburg - Limburg 40 km

Todays course of the river curls between Taunus and Westerwald. A paved bike trail takes you past Aumenau and Runkel to Limburg with its cathedral of worldwide fame. You can really be looking forward to the town of Limburg, as it is one of the few towns where the medieval constructions have been preserved almost without changes. Consequently, the Old-town and the town nucleus with its half-timbered architecture dating from the 13th through 18th century and formerly surrounded by a city wall, are under monument protection today. Colorful carved ornaments are very typical for the local architecture.

8. day Limburg - Nassau 27-39 km

A real scenic highlight stands on your schedule today. Far off from any traffic, you will cycle through untouched landscape from Diez tu Balduinstein. Two climbs which can be comfortably avoided by train (11 km) are part of the route today. Catch your breath again at the monastery of Arnstein. A beautiful forest track will then take you to Nassau with its small castle, that you are invited to conquer in the afternoon. Nassau offers a wide range of activities for leisure and recreation.

9. day Nassau - Koblenz 28 km

A historical inn waits for you on the right side of the Lahn before reaching Bad Ems. Marvel at the numerous buildings whose spa-architecture is of worldwide importance. These buildings are contemporary witnesses of Roman history and German Romanticism. Now you will take the next 12 km towards the Rhine valley. What an amazing view! On this beautiful Rhine-bike trail, you will soon reach the Deutsche Eck and the heart of Koblenz.

10. day Koblenz departure

Your cycling holiday ends after breakfast. You can either depart by train, or if you wish to return to Marburg, our transfer service will be available (departure 9 a.m., ca. 2,5 hours).

Worth knowing

Below you will find specific information about the bike trip on the Lahn - bike path. If you have further questions about this trip, you simply call us: Phone: 06421 – 886890.

Arrival by train

The nearest railway station is Feudingen. A transfer from the station in Feudingen to the hotel at the source of the Lahn can be booked inexpensive via the hotel. Per trip (maximum 6 people), the fee is ca. 30.00 EUR (Tuesday is day of rest). Current schedule information and price information can be found at: www.bahn.de.

Train schedule information

Parking facilities at the hotel

At the hotel Forsthaus Lahnquelle you can park your car for the whole duration of the trip.

The fee per parking space is 4,- Euro per day. There are always many parking sport available, a reservation is not required.

Condition of cycle paths

The Lahn Valley Bike Trail leads through beautiful and varied landscapes of forests, hills, meadows, wetlands and steep slopes studded with rocks. The Lahn originates in the middle of silent forests in the low mountain ranges Siegen-Wittgenstein, the most densely forested region of Germany. After the Lahn has left the mountain country, the Lahn valley widens and passes into a hilly landscape. The Lahn then runs through an open and fertile Shire before the slopes come closer and form a gorge-like valley. In the last section the Lahn runs in tight turns to its mouth with the Rhine at Lahnstein.

The Lahn Valley Cycle Route was honoured in 2006 as one of the first cycle tracks in Germany, with 4 out of 5 stars by the ADFC. Evaluated have been navigability, eviction, security and tourism infrastructure.

You cycle on mostly flat, paved hiking and cycling trails aside from traffic noise, only occasionally a few gradients must be overcome. The route is very well signposted. Most of the time the railway line runs parallel to the bike path.

Available rental bikes

If you choose to rent a velocipede-rental bike for the tour, you can choose between woman’s and men's bicycles either with 7-speed gear shift and coaster brake or 27-speed gear shift and freewheel or electric bikes. All ladies' bikes have a low opening that makes mounting and dismounting much easier. The bikes are suitable for all ladies from 150 cm in height and for all gentlemen from 165 cm in height. You simply specify your wishes at time of booking.

Velociped rental bikes

Transfer back to the starting point of the journey

Daily at 9am there is the possibility to transfer back to the source of the Lahn with a small bus (with bike trailer). Arrival at 11.30am. The driver comes to pick you up at your hotel and has much room for you, your luggage and where required your own bicycle. The bus takes you back to your first hotel, thus ensuring a perfect return service without transfer and the hassle of hauling luggage.

Visitors tax

A visitors tax is not included and has to be paid locally at the hotel

7 day hotline service

Lahn Source

The Lahn has its source in the southern Rothaargebirge near the two other rivers of the Sieg and Eder region. The source is at 610 m altitude at Lahnhof (NRW). The Lahn Valley Cycle Trail accompanies the Lahn from its source to its mouth into the Rhine near Lahnstein. The Lahn Valley Cycle Route is one of the most popular cycling trails in Germany.

Lahn source

Castle Biedenkopf

The Landgrafenschloss Biedenkopf was built in the middle of the 15th century by Henry III to Hessen-Marburg and is one of the most important cultural monuments of the state of Hessen.

Castle Biedenkopf

Marburg Castle

The founding residence of the Hessian Landgrave was built as a castle to crown the land of the so-called “Gisonenfelsen” rocks. Origins date back to around 1000 whereby the Landgrave castle was counted among the first hill castles in Germany and the starting point for the development of Marburg. Landgrave castle, princely residence, fortress – the Gothic and late Gothic structures with renaissance fixtures represent a unique, multifaceted history. The casemates located at the castle moat and park are evidence of this. An important part of the castle, which is now in the possession of the university, is the university museum for cultural history which includes collections on Hesse’s pre and early history, religious art and civic urban living.

Marburg Castle

Marburg Castle

St. Elisabeth Church

Construction of the earliest purely Gothic hall church on German soil began in the same year that Elisabeth of Thuringia was canonised (1235). The church which was erected by the Teutonic Order over the grave of Saint Elisabeth of Thuringia was consecrated in 1283 and became one of the most important pilgrimage sites of the late Middle Ages. Until today, the Protestant community church is an extraordinary monument to sacred architecture and the destination of tens of thousands of visitors every year. In addition to the burial ground of the Landgraves of Hessen, Elisabeth’s richly ornamented golden shrine is very impressive. The colourful stained-glass windows show St. Elisabeth’s life and charity work and are among the most significant examples of Gothic glass art. 

St. Elisabeth Church

Mathematikum Gießen

Mathematikum in Giessen is the world's first mathematical science center. More than 170 exhibits open a new door to mathematics. Visitors of all ages and educational backgrounds exerimentate: they puzzle, build bridges, stand in a giant soap bubble, see themselves infinite times in a mirror and many many more.

Mathematikum Gießen

Castle Braunfels

Looks like in a fairy tale, but is true: located on the top of a basalt rock, Schloss Braunfels with its crenelated silhouette sits and welcomes its visitors from afar. For 800 years, the castle is a living cultural monument, rich in very special art treasures and still inhabited by the family.

Castle Braunfels

Castle Weilburg

The four-lane high-rise is the oldest part of the entire Weilburg castle complex. This part was built in the style of the Renaissance in partial steps in the years 1533-1572 and remained until today almost unchanged.

Castle Weilburg

The Limburg Cathedral

With its multiple towers and hilltop site overlooking a river, the Limburger Dom looks like a Romantic castle. Located at the top of the attractive city of Limburg an der Lahn in the Rhineland, the painted church was built in the 13th century and only became a cathedral in 1827. It is well preserved in its original form and contains a multitude of murals and early medieval sculpture.

Limburg Cathedral

Nassau

Nassau is home to the namesake castle. Nassau Castle was the original seat of the House of Nassau in Nassau, Rhineland-Palatinate. The ruins of the castle are situated on a rock outcropping about 390 ft. above the Lahn River. The House of Nassau was an aristocratic dynasty among whose descendants are the present-day rulers of the Netherlands and Luxembourg. The castle was founded around 1100 by Count Dudo-Henry of Laurenburg, the founder of the House of Nassau. In 1120, Dudo-Henry's sons and succeessors, Counts Robert I and Arnold I of Laurenburg, established themselves at Nassau Castle with its tower. They renovated and extended the castle complex in 1124.

Impressions about places in Nassau can be found under:

Place to be in Nassau

"Deutsches Eck" in Koblenz

World-famous: Where Father Rhine and Mother Moselle meet: The Deutsches Eck ("German Corner")

The establishment of the Teutonic Order at the confluence of the Rhine and Moselle in 1216 gave this historic site its name, the “Deutsches Eck”. Koblenz also owes its name to the meeting point of the Rhine and the Moselle - from “Castellum apud Confluentes”, Latin for “fort at the confluence”, which over time became the current name of Koblenz.

Shortly after Kaiser Wilhelm I’s death, the idea arose of creating a memorial to him, as it was the Kaiser who had brought about the unification of Germany after three years of war. Three years later in 1891, Kaiser Wilhelm II, the grandson of the deceased, chose the Deutsches Eck in Koblenz as the most suitable location. A harbour of refuge in the Moselle estuary was filled in to create space for the memorial. The Deutsches Eck in its present form was created.

Deutsche Eck