Weather (Hesse): Old Town, History and Excursions

Weather (Hesse) reveals itself through historic buildings, a walk around the old town and routes with a variety of highlights. The collegiate church has stood on Klosterberg since the 13th century. You can explore the historic old town on your own or as part of a guided city tour. For active days, the 21-kilometre Treisbachtal cycle route and the viewpoints on the Extratour Stirnhelle offer different options. Nearby, the adjoining Burgwald forest, with Christenberg, is a destination for an excursion.

The History of Wetter’s Old Town

Several places offer different perspectives on the town’s history. In the 18th century, citizens of Wetter were imprisoned in the Diebsturm tower; the tower probably served as a prison until the beginning of the 19th century. The town of Wetter acquired the former synagogue in 2000. It was extensively restored as part of the old-town redevelopment. The Träger- und Förderverein ehemalige Synagoge Wetter e. V. (Association for the Support and Preservation of the Former Synagogue in Wetter) is committed to its preservation and use as a memorial, place of learning and venue for cultural gatherings.

Religious history, the Diebsturm’s former use and the history of the former synagogue provide a range of historical themes for a town-centre walk. You can explore the old town independently or on a guided tour. This allows you to tailor your visit to what interests you most: historic buildings, the town’s history or both.

Cycling Route and Viewpoints

The Treisbachtal cycle route runs for 21 kilometres from Biedenkopf to Wetter and in the opposite direction. The Extratour Stirnhelle offers a different focus: its Stirnhelle and Gerlachsberg viewpoints, both at 387 metres, provide views over the Burgwald forest, Mellnau Castle and the town of Wetter. At Rienert, the viewpoint is at 285 metres and also offers views over these places and landscapes. You can choose between a cycle route with Biedenkopf and Wetter as its endpoints and a tour featuring three named viewpoints.

The nearby surroundings add another option: the Burgwald forest with Christenberg, a destination for an excursion close to Wetter. Together, these offer a range of themes for planning your trip: the old town and its history, a cycling route between two places, views along the Extratour, or a nearby excursion destination.

More Impressions of Marburg-Biedenkopf

Looking beyond Wetter, the wider travel destination of Marburg-Biedenkopf offers a varied landscape and further cultural themes. The district encompasses low mountain landscapes, half-timbered villages, and historic as well as young, modern towns. The Burgwald, Gladenbacher Bergland, Amöneburger Becken and Lahntal feature settlements with geological, cultural-historical, historical-development, artistic and folkloric points of interest.

Non-motorised boats are permitted on the Perfstausee in Marburg-Biedenkopf; this may include stand-up paddleboarding and canoeing. A walking path suitable for strollers, which can be used year-round, runs around the lake. There are also e-bike charging stations, a bicycle repair station and plenty of free parking. The Perfstausee lies at the intersection of numerous regional and long-distance cycle routes and is a popular destination for cycling excursions. Walking, water activities and cycling each offer a different focus here.

The region’s hiking trails can also be distinguished by their stated features. The 18-kilometre Himmelsbergtour is a premium hiking trail in the Burgwald region; it passes through Burgholz and Himmelsberg, through forests, meadows and fields, and through a Natura 2000 protected area. The 13.2-kilometre Galgenbergtour is also described as a premium hiking trail. It passes through Gemünden and skirts the historically significant Jewish cemetery there. The distances and route themes provide a clear basis for choosing between the two tours.

In Biedenkopf, the Grenzgang combines tradition and communal celebration: held every seven years, it is a three-day festival at historic forest sites, bringing together locals and visitors from around the world. The museum at Biedenkopf Castle presents the cultural history of the Hinterland over the past 900 years as a Hinterland museum across 1,000 square metres. The Schartenhof in Biedenkopf-Eckelshausen, more than 300 years old, is one of the region’s historically significant half-timbered buildings and is now a centre for art, culture and music. It hosts seasonal exhibitions featuring works from the region, as well as exhibitions of painting, photography, graphic art and sculpture; it also stages puppet theatre performances of classical operas.

The Marburg-Biedenkopf district’s Route of Labour and Industrial Culture offers another thematic perspective. It presents the history of labour and industry, as well as the historic and modern capabilities of local businesses. Its sites are designed as informal learning centres outside schools, with numerous interactive stations that provide information about the region.

Choose Accommodation Based on Your Travel Interests

The destination described here offers everything from town walks and historic buildings to water-based and hiking activities, museums, art and regional history. You can base your search on the mix of culture, activity and scenery you choose for your trip.

More Destinations

Discover more destinations: Oberrosphe, Steffenberg, Bad Endbach, Lahntal, Dautphetal, Cölbe, Amöneburg, Stadtallendorf

Back to the main travel overview: Marburg-Biedenkopf.