Sarnau: Local History and Cycling Route

Sarnau combines local history with a practical way to make your trip active: the Burgwald Cycle Route can be started at the village’s railway station. This gives you different options to focus on when planning your trip—history in the village and a longer cycling tour.

Sarnau: History and Cycling Route

Sarnau lies on the historic Old Wine Road and has been documented since 1200. Its early chapel was replaced by a half-timbered church in 1704; a concrete church was built later. The sequence of chapel, half-timbered church and concrete church reflects several phases in the local history of the church.

The railway’s history has also been marked by change: passenger services at the former railway junction were discontinued in 2010, and a stopping point closer to the edge of the village took its place. If you plan to arrive by train, check current connections before your trip.

The 42.5-kilometre Burgwald Cycle Route can be started at Sarnau railway station. Along the route, the Lahn, the wooded Burgwald, wetlands, streams and half-timbered villages come together. The tour offers a contrast between river and woodland landscapes, complemented by nature-rich stretches and villages. The stated route length is a practical point of reference for planning; starting in Sarnau connects the village with this cycling route.

Hiking and Culture in the Wider Lahntal Destination

In Goßfelden, the circular route “In the Footsteps of Otto Ubbelohde through Goßfelden” leads to art and local history. It was inaugurated in June 2010, starts at the museum in the Lahn meadows and covers around 1.5 kilometres, with 16 stops, mostly through old Goßfelden. Ubbelohde’s drawings, illustrations and paintings are presented at the village locations where the motifs—including illustrations for fairy tales—can still be recognised today, or appear to be recognisable again.

The old bridge in Goßfelden is a local landmark. The year 1802 is inscribed in Roman numerals on its eastern side. It can only be crossed on foot or by bicycle—a key distinction when planning your routes through Goßfelden.

Near Caldern, two circular hiking trails differ in length and route. The L1 runs from Caldern via Dilschhausen and back to Caldern and is 12.9 kilometres long. Points of interest along the way include two churches, the “Paradise” and the historic summit of Rimberg Tower. The family-friendly L3 is the shorter route at 6.7 kilometres; it follows paved paths through fields and woodland and offers views of Caldern. You can first decide which circular route best suits your outing based on its length and scenery.

The entirely forested Wollenberg north of Lahntal can be reached directly from almost all of Lahntal’s districts and offers numerous circular hiking trails. The more than 20-metre-high Schenk Oak also stands there. It is named after the forest ranger Johannes Schenk, who looked after the forest on the Wollenberg until 1928.

A signposted hiking trail from Brungershausen leads to the “Wichtelhäuser,” a massive group of rocks. The stones lie a little way off the forest path, invite you to climb and offer views across the Lahntal, towards Kernbach and towards the Rimberg opposite.

Choose Accommodation Based on Your Travel Interests

When looking for accommodation, you can first decide whether your main focus is Sarnau as a starting point for the cycling tour or the independent destinations in the wider Lahntal, with its art, bridge and hiking trails. Compare the location of your accommodation with the specific place you want to visit. This way, your choice will reflect the experiences that matter most on your trip.

For the wider travel overview: Lahntal.