The Lahn meadows shape Aull and invite you to linger. From Aull, you can see Oranienstein Castle in nearby Diez. The Old Castle and the Forest and Meadow Tour add architectural history and cycling as further highlights. You can tailor your stay to whether you prefer to take in the landscape, admire historic architecture or include a cycling route.
The Old Castle and the history of the castle
The Old Castle is a former moated castle, probably built in the 12th century. It is thought to have served as a road toll station. The main building dates from the late Middle Ages and has two half-timbered upper floors and a hipped roof. The two-storey extensions with gabled roofs date from the mid-16th and mid-17th centuries. This means that different periods of construction can be distinguished in the building. The Old Castle is privately owned and can only be viewed from the outside.
Nearby in Diez, Oranienstein Castle continues the historical thread. It was built in the 17th and 18th centuries as a residence for a widowed princess; direct ancestors of the Dutch royal family once lived there. Visits are only possible as part of a guided tour, which must be booked in advance by telephone. The Nassau-Oranien Museum can also be visited as part of a guided tour. It documents the history of the Dutch royal family. If you would like to combine the view of the castle from Aull with a visit, take these tour and booking requirements into account when planning.
Playground and cycle routes
At Hambach, the playground has climbing equipment, swings and sand. There are also shaded seating areas, picnic tables and water play beside the Hambach. This offers various ways to take a break outdoors, without implying that it is necessarily suitable for every travel group.
The Forest and Meadow Tour passes through Aull. A section of about 12 kilometres is described for the return journey from Diez to Hambach; it includes moderate climbs and runs mostly along a dedicated cycle path. This provides a specific point of comparison if you are looking for a ride with a manageable distance and want to take the climbs into account when planning. Nearby in Diez, the Lahn Valley Cycle Route also follows the river downstream. The riverside park there has a canoe rest stop and a motorboat landing.
The wider Rhein-Lahn region
In the wider Rhein-Lahn destination, the Roman Limes runs through the district. Visible remains are still part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site of the Upper Germanic-Rhaetian Limes. The right-bank section of the Upper Middle Rhine Valley UNESCO World Heritage Site, from Kaub to Lahnstein, is also part of this wider regional setting. The World Heritage Site includes a 65-kilometre stretch between Bingen, Rüdesheim and Koblenz, with historic small towns, terraced vineyards and castle ruins. These regional connections complement the specific destinations in Aull and Diez, but are distinct themes of the Rhein-Lahn area.
Choose your accommodation and what to focus on
When looking for a holiday apartment, you can start by deciding what you want your stay to centre on: the Lahn meadows and the Old Castle in Aull, a guided tour of Oranienstein Castle or cycling routes in the Diez area. Transport connections to Cologne and Frankfurt are also considered convenient. Then choose your accommodation based on the specific activities you plan to include.
Discover more destinations: Altendiez, Heistenbach, Gückingen, Laurenburg, Birlenbach, Dörnberg, Steinsberg, Hirschberg.
Return to the main travel overview: Diez.
