Discover Selters

In Selters, nature and medieval architectural history can be the focus of your stay. Three circular trails explore the floodplain and salt meadows in the Middle Nidder Valley near Effolderbach and Selters; the Volcano Cycle Route runs through the Ortenberg district of Selters. The Protestant parish church adds a notable cultural monument. When looking for accommodation, you can start by considering whether you would prefer to explore the landscape or the town’s history.

Nature and Trails in the Middle Nidder Valley

The FFH area 5620-301 “Salt Meadows and Vineyard of Selters” lies along the Nidder between Konradsdorf, Selters and Wippenbach. Near Effolderbach and Selters, three circular trails explore the floodplain and salt meadows in the Middle Nidder Valley. Several trails thus provide access to the area’s landscape features.

Information boards along the Salt Meadow Circular Trail explain the importance of agriculture and nature conservation, as well as inland salt meadows. The trails offer different thematic points of interest: the boards highlight specific features of the landscape, while the Volcano Cycle Route runs through the district as a cycling route. For planning purposes, this is a clear distinction between circular trails through floodplain and salt meadows and a designated cycling route.

Church, Lapidarium and Local History

The Protestant parish church in Selters is a medieval hall church with a three-sided apse. The three-sided apse describes the end of the church space, which has three sides. The building also features a fortified west tower with an octagonal spire. The church is a cultural monument for historical, artistic and scientific reasons.

A lapidarium containing elaborately decorated, partly well-preserved 18th-century tombstones is located on the church’s north wall. The parish church thus brings together two distinct historical points of interest: its medieval architectural form and the 18th-century tombstones. Those interested in architectural history will find specific details here; the lapidarium complements this perspective with historic funerary art.

Selters’ local history is also connected with salt-bearing springs and the former extraction of salt from brine. Salt is therefore part of both the salt meadows’ landscape and the history of local salt production.

More to Explore in the Wider Destination of Ortenberg

The wider destination of Ortenberg offers additional cultural attractions and events. Ortenberg was first referred to as a town in the 13th century; the town wall, which encircles the historic center with its many half-timbered buildings, dates from that period. This look at a historic town center complements the local and architectural history you can discover at the parish church in Selters.

The Kalter Markt in Ortenberg has been celebrated at the end of October every year since the 13th century and is considered Upper Hesse’s largest folk festival. It includes a centuries-old horse and foal market as well as a large traders’ market with more than 400 stalls. If the Kalter Markt falls during your travel dates, check the specific program for that year before your trip.

The Lißberg Musical Instrument Museum offers another cultural highlight: it displays more than 2,000 original instruments and replicas and has the world’s largest collection of hurdy-gurdies and bagpipes. Visitors can try instruments at a music table; cassette tapes or CDs are available as an audio accompaniment.

Discover more destinations: Karben, Ranstadt, Wölfersheim, Rockenberg, Gedern, Hirzenhain, Echzell, Niddatal.

Back to the wider travel overview: Wetterau.