In Runkel, the medieval castle, the half-timbered old town and routes for cycling and hiking take center stage. One simple question can help with your travel planning: should your stay focus mainly on historic sites, or would you also like to plan longer distances on foot or by bike? You can give the different themes the emphasis that suits your interests, without trying to fit every stop into a single itinerary.
Castle, half-timbered houses and chapels
Runkel Castle was first mentioned in 1159. Schadeck Castle stands on the opposite slope of the Lahn, facing Runkel Castle, and was first mentioned in a document in 1288. Both buildings provide a tangible setting for Runkel’s cultural history, even though they date from different centuries.
The historic old town, with its half-timbered houses, invites you to take a stroll. In Dehrn, Dehrn Castle is a landmark that shapes the district’s appearance. Below the castle stands the renovated and restored 12th-century St. Nicholas Chapel. Hofen Mill is also a cultural monument: visitors can tour the fully preserved grain mill and hydroelectric power station.
The annual Nikolausmarkt (St. Nicholas Market) takes place around St. Nicholas Chapel in Dehrn. It is held during Advent; the exact dates vary from year to year. If you plan to visit the market, check the event date for the relevant year.
Cycling routes and hiking trails
Those exploring Runkel by bike will find two routes that pass through the historic old town: the Lahn Cycle Route and long-distance cycle route R 7. Another route is the approximately 30-kilometer Kerkerbach Railway Trail. It runs from Runkel to Mengerskirchen and is now a cycling and hiking trail from the Lahn into the Westerwald. This offers options ranging from routes through the old town to a longer stretch toward the Westerwald.
For a hike, consider the permanent trail “In the Steep Slopes of the Lahn.” The 12-kilometer route is open year-round and starts and ends at the Altstadt Café in Runkel. Important to know when planning a winter visit: the trail is neither gritted nor cleared then. Another hiking route, described as 10 kilometers long, follows the Lahnhöhenweg. At 10 kilometers, the Lahnhöhenweg route is the shorter of the two hiking options described.
Plan your journey and accommodation
Runkel is a railway station on the Gießen–Koblenz Lahn line. If you plan to travel by train, check the timetable in advance for your specific travel dates.
Nature and regional activities
Runkel’s nature reserves include the “Wehrley von Runkel.” Rare plants, fern species and moss flora, as well as botanical, geological and ornithological features, are specially protected in the reserves. This adds a nature aspect to the historic buildings and routes that you can take into account when planning your trip by theme.
The wider Limburg-Weilburg travel region also offers canoe trips from the Runkel canoe station. One- or multi-day trips are available for individual travelers and groups, using Canadian canoes and kayaks; equipment, an introduction and passenger transport are included. Check the current packages before your trip so your plans meet the applicable conditions.
Discover more destinations: WeilmĂĽnster, Brechen, Limburg An Der Lahn, Mengerskirchen, Dornburg, Bad Camberg, Hadamar, Hintermeilingen.
Go to the main travel overview: Limburg-Weilburg.
