An early chapter in Bilkheim’s local history can no longer be read from the landscape: the burial ground from the late Hallstatt period is not visible today, but an information board presents historical information and images of the finds. Other traces are found in the history of the buildings; the annual Backesfest and cycling routes offer their own highlights. This allows local history, local tradition and active pursuits to be seen as different sides of the destination.
The Hallstatt Period and Historic Architectural Forms
The burial ground comprises 30 burial mounds and flat graves. No visible remains of the burial site are left; the information board conveys historical information and shows images of the finds. Here, the history is therefore explored through text and illustrations rather than visible graves.
North of Bilkheim, on the road from Salz to Herschbach, stands a masonry wayside shrine from the 19th century. Its niche is set in a pointed gable. Also north of the village, on the road to Salz, stands the wayside chapel: it is built of masonry, has a half-timbered gable and probably dates from the second half of the 18th century. The gable designs distinguish the two buildings: at the wayside shrine, the niche forms part of the pointed gable, while at the chapel, the gable is defined by its half-timbering.
Details of the Museum House and Manor
The museum house preserves oak beams, some of which are more than seven metres long, as well as well-preserved wall decorations. A different type of building is Hofgut Neuroth: this small moated castle dates from 1664 and has an almost square footprint, a tower-like elevation and mansard roofs. The comparison highlights different features: at the museum house, the focus is on the beams and wall design; at the manor, on the footprint, height and roof shape.
Backesfest and Cycling Routes
The annual Backesfest is part of the local calendar. At that time, the bakehouse opens for traditional bread baking in the stone oven. The opportunity to bake is tied to the festival; as event arrangements may vary, it is worth checking the specific dates before travelling.
For cyclists, the 5-Seen-Radweg runs from Dorndorf through Bilkheim to Wallmerod. Another route option is the Wallmerod–Westerburg cycling and hiking trail. It forms part of the Westerwaldschleife long-distance cycle route and features gentle gradients, good signposting and numerous places to stop and rest. It is worth checking the latest route information before setting off: conditions and temporary diversions on the 5-Seen-Radweg may change; the route designation, signposting and rest stops on the Wallmerod–Westerburg trail may also change.
The Westerwald as a Regional Setting
In the wider Westerwald destination, the 5-Seen-Radweg links the Secker Weiher, Wiesensee, Hahner Waldsee, Mengerskirchen Lake and Krombachtalsperre. The WesterwaldSteig offers a different scale for hiking: this long-distance trail runs for 235 kilometres through the Westerwald and has 16 stages. Check the current route planner before planning your stages.
In the Westerwald, the former basalt quarry of Stöffel-Park, covering around 140 hectares, brings together industrial heritage, geological history and nature. The TERTIÄRUM displays fossils, including the famous “Stöffel mouse”, which document around 25 million years of geological history. The Holzbach Gorge offers a different kind of landscape: this approximately one-kilometre-long breakthrough valley in the Westerwald has basalt walls up to 30 metres high. At the regional level, fossils and geological history at the TERTIÄRUM are thus set against a valley with striking basalt walls.
Discover more destinations: Kadenbach, Freilingen, Steinebach An Der Wied, Gehlert, Westerburg, Oberelbert, Niedersayn, Westernohe
For the wider travel overview: Westerwald.
