Weyerbusch combines circular hiking trails with cycling and hiking options, as well as historical themes related to Raiffeisen. There are different options to choose from when planning your visit: two shorter circular trails with different routes, the W4 routes with information about the landscape, and facilities that offer insights into local history and agriculture. This makes it possible to tailor your stay to your preferred level of activity and interests.
Hiking trails of varying lengths
Hiking Trail W1 forms a loop around the built-up area of Weyerbusch. W2 heads northeast from Weyerbusch through meadows and forest paths to Rimbach. The two circular trails are approximately 5 and 7.5 kilometres long, respectively, making W2 around 2.5 kilometres longer. The choice between them can be based primarily on trail length and route. There are more than 20 benches along W1 and W2 for taking a break. Check for current trail notices before setting out.
W4: exploring the landscape and history
W4 North and W4 South are accessible cycling and hiking trails. They are intended for hikers, cyclists, e-bike riders, users of robust electric wheelchairs, and visitors with visual impairments. The routes explain the history of mills and the ecology of the upper Mehrbach Valley. QR codes at 19 information boards provide information, images and audio files; a smartphone is required to access this content.
The W4 starting point in Weyerbusch is directly on the B8. Shortly after the old town hall, the route offers a view of the Oberwesterwald when visibility is good. It then passes the Raiffeisen monument in Weyerbusch. Visibility depends on the weather. If you are planning to take W4, check the latest route information before setting out.
Raiffeisen history and the village museum
The Raiffeisen Meeting Centre comprises the historic mayor’s house, a bakehouse and a seminar building. Group visits with a film screening are available by prior arrangement. The former Raiffeisen House served Friedrich Wilhelm Raiffeisen as both a home and a council chamber from 1845 to 1948. Raiffeisen founded the Weyerbusch Bread Association together with several wealthy residents. In connection with the association, a bakehouse was built for baking bread communally.
The Village and School Museum explores working methods and materials from a time when life was strongly shaped by agriculture. The photographic documentation shows changes in Weyerbusch, including the effects of the Second World War. The museum is open by appointment. If you would like to include both historical themes and trails, make sure to arrange your museum visit separately from planning your route.
Plan your journey
Take regional train RB 90 to Altenkirchen; from there, bus route 250 goes to the Weyerbusch Sonnenhof stop. Services and timetables may change, so it is advisable to check them before travelling. If travelling by bike, the W4 starting point directly on the B8 is given as a landmark.
More to explore in the wider Altenkirchen destination
Other places in the wider Altenkirchen destination also have connections to Raiffeisen. In 1849, Friedrich Wilhelm Raiffeisen founded the “Flammersfelder Hülfsverein zur Unterstützung unbemittelter Landwirthe” in Flammersfeld, the world’s first credit union. In Marienthal, the Klosterdorfweg trail loops around the former Franciscan monastery through the Archdiocese of Cologne’s shady Kurwald forest. Marienthal is still a popular pilgrimage site today.
Discover more destinations: Kircheib, Gieleroth, Hemmelzen, Mehren, Helmenzen.
Back to the wider travel overview: Altenkirchen.
