The Hohe Kanzel is Niedernhausen’s local mountain and, at 591 metres, the highest point in the municipality. You can plan your trip around different themes: one educational trail explores the history of the Earth, another the forest ecosystem; local history can be seen in churches, memorial sites and historic buildings, among other places. This makes it easy to choose according to your interests and available time.
Educational trails and walks
The geo-adventure trail between Oberjosbach and Oberseelbach covers nearly 5 kilometres and takes you through 460 million years of Earth’s history. The Oberjosbach Forest Adventure Trail has a different focus: more than 30 stations offer insights into the forest ecosystem. The circular trail is about 3.5 kilometres long, and the estimated time to complete it is approximately 1 to 1.5 hours. The two educational trails differ mainly in their subject matter—Earth’s history or forest ecology—while the forest trail’s approximate duration and circular route also make it easier to plan your time.
The Eichhornweg is a varied, medium-length forest hiking trail with relatively few climbs. It follows wide, comfortable paths over gravel, grass and forest floor, passing through Niedernhausen’s districts of Oberjosbach, Niedernhausen and Oberseelbach. Here, the path surface, climbs and route through three districts help you find your way. You can therefore plan your trip using different criteria: the theme of an educational trail, an approximate duration or the described condition of the route.
Long-distance routes are also part of the trail network: the fifth stage of the Hessian Long-Distance Cycle Route R6 passes partly through the municipality of Niedernhausen. The Bembelweg is one of the hiking trails that cross the municipality. The hiking trails connect individual districts and link up with long-distance trails. A cross-border hiking trail also runs between Niedernhausen-Niederseelbach and Idstein-Dasbach.
The Historic Walk through Niedernhausen is divided into several sections. You do not have to walk them together or in a set order. This lets you explore local history section by section, rather than planning a fixed sequence for the entire walk.
Local history across different eras
The former Catholic parish church of the Nativity of Mary was built as a chapel between 1881 and 1885 and has been the seat of its own parish since 1921. The Protestant Johanneskirche in the district of Niederseelbach dates from the 16th century. These dates refer to different historical milestones: the 16th-century church and the Nativity of Mary, built as a chapel and later becoming a parish church.
The Alte Kirche Centre (ZAK) is another cultural landmark: the Alte Kirche Niedernhausen e.V. association preserves the former church and organizes numerous cultural events there. Above the tracks at Niedernhausen railway station stands the Schillertempel, a rustic wooden pavilion with seating and a view. Niedernhausen’s local history and tourism association had it built in 1905 to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the death of the poet Friedrich Schiller.
The area’s history is also shaped by its former uses. The Felsenkeller, also known as the Eiskeller, was once used to store ice and served as an air-raid shelter during the Second World War. For many years, the Mariengrotte was a stop on Niedernhausen’s Corpus Christi procession. The villas in the spa district, dating from the late 19th and early 20th centuries, bear witness to Niedernhausen’s former importance as a climatic health resort.
The Romans marked their northern boundary along what is now the border between Niedernhausen and Idstein. The Upper German-Raetian Limes was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2005. For a shorter stop in Oberseelbach, visit the village fountain: its cast-iron basin has a shape typical of the Taunus and Westerwald regions. The local Backes (bakehouse) contains a working municipal bread oven. It underwent extensive restoration in 2023 with funding from the Rheingau-Taunus district.
Discover more destinations: Heidenrod, Eltville Am Rhein, Taunusstein, RĂĽdesheim Am Rhein, Geisenheim, Idstein, Waldems, HĂĽnstetten
For the overview of the wider area, see: Rheingau-Taunus district.
