Surroundings
The Westerwald forms one of the most varied landscapes in the whole of Germany, with its forest-covered hills offering a distant view as far as the Siebengebierge, lively streams, long valleys and beautiful meadows.
There is a lot for you to discover when holidaying in the Westerwald: Footpaths alongside rivers will lead you to medieval towns, stunning lakes and old monasteries. Cyclists will enjoy the extended curves of the scarcely used country roads, whilst kayakers will love the challenge of the Nister and Sieg’s strong currents. In the event of bad weather, the Kneipp bath Marienberg, as well as various museums offer recreation and variation. We are delighted to share our secrets for great excursions with you and to provide you with hiking maps of the region.
The Alte Vogtei is surrounded by various excursion destinations. Alongside various monasteries and beautiful half-timbered house villages, various destinations such as the Kulturwerk in Wissen, the Kulturhaus in our town, Haus Felsenkeller or Elmores in Schladern offer various venues for concerts, literature or culture programs in the evening.
Kloster Marienthal (3.5 km)
Miracle healings are at the root of Marienthal’s reputation as a pilgrimage destination. Franciscans served God in the monastery up until 1974 and nowadays, pastoral care is provided through the order of St Michael from Poland.
Kloster Marienstatt (25 km)
A mere 9 Cistercian's monks continue to live in the monastery Marienstatt today. The impressive complex includes an important library that encompasses 80,000 works. The monastery also includes its own brewery with restaurant and beer garden.
Hachenburg with Old Town ensemble & landscape museum (25 km) Hachenburg received its city rights as early as 1314 when it was an important junction between the trade routes Cologne-Frankfurt and Cologne-Leipzig. Today, Hachenburg and its historic marketplace are a gem for tourists. The town’s landscape museum also offers a hands-on historic experience. An old village school, the miller’s home as well as a typical Westerwald small house are but few examples of the wonders just waiting to be discovered.
For car-enthusiasts, a visit to the nearby Cadillac-museum is an absolute must. And tractor fans are well-advised to make a trip to Hattert’s Tractor museum, just 6 km away. The ore mine and Basalt Park are exciting for both young and old. Needless to say, the World Cultural Heritage of the Central Rhine as well as the Rhine metropolises Cologne and Bonn are well worth the trip. The same goes for the nearby Stöffel-Park that offers a highly exciting experience.
Cycling
Cyclists will find ideal conditions with us for their intermediate stop or as a base station. We offer you an uncomplicated check-in, safe parking for your bike and of course a good refreshment from our kitchen. So you can pedal relaxed and well strengthened.
In and around Hamm/Sieg there are numerous cycle paths, also long-distance cycle paths to discover. The cycle path "Sieg" runs directly in front of our house.
For the planning of your bike tour you will find further information here:
- The cycle path "Sieg"
in german: radregionrheinland.de/... - Long-distance cycle paths and theme cycle paths in the Westerwald
in english: westerwald.info/...
in dutch: westerwald.info/... - Cycling through the community of Altenkirchen
in german: vg-altenkirchen.de/... - Cycling tour through the Hammer Land
in german: hamm-sieg.de/...
Hiking / Activities
The Westerwald is one of the best places for hiking in all of Germany. The Westerwaldsteig situated between the rivers Sieg, Dill and Lahn offers the perfect stage for a relaxing hiking journey in the middle of Germany. Needless to say, you can explore various gorges, waterfalls and even the so-called ‘End of the World’ at your preferred pace. The Westerwald is also perfect for a hiking vacation with your dog as man’s best friend is allowed to explore its surroundings without being on a leash in the Rheinland-Palatinate. A local trail will lead you straight to Marienthal from the Alte Vogtei with just 3.5 km to cover. From there, following the Westerwaldsteig towards the east, you’ll be able to reach the Monastery Marienthal as well as the 389-meter-high Beuelskopf to the west on your way to Weyerbusch. The Beulskopf and the 35-meter-tall Raiffeisentower at its summit offer an impressive view of the Raiffeisen Country.
The Natur-Siegsteig runs 195 km from Siegburg to Wissen and offers the possibility to travel back to Hamm/Sieg by train. Breathtaking views will have you stopping in awe along your journey. You will also rejoice at the fields of foxgloves that blossom in the middle of the woods in June. This way far off the main tourist paths has a diverse offering of original paths and oftentimes historic trails.
Canoeists, cyclists, mountain bikers and equestrians will also find the Westerwald offers nearly limitless opportunities.