Stipshausen: Agate Windows and the Idarkopf Tower

In Stipshausen, unusual church art meets a scenic outing to the Idarkopf. The Protestant Church combines architectural history with paintings, an organ and distinctive agate windows; the tower offers a different experience, with height, steps and views across the EdelSteinLand and the Hunsrück heights.

Church: Hunsrück rural Baroque and agate windows

The Protestant Church was built in 1778–79. Its interior is decorated in the Hunsrück rural Baroque style, with paintings on the altar, ceiling and gallery. It also has a Stumm organ, dedicated in 1861. The building period, painted decoration and history of the organ offer different ways to appreciate this church.

Two windows installed in 2014 are a more recent feature. Made entirely of agate, they were created by gemstone artists Bernd and Tom Munsteiner. They are said to be the only windows in the world made entirely of agate. The rural Baroque design and a more recent work of art stand side by side, creating an unusual contrast within Stipshausen’s local history.

Idarkopf Tower: views and a walking route

The 31.1-metre-high Idarkopf Tower near Stipshausen offers views across the EdelSteinLand and the Hunsrück heights. The ascent involves 170 steps and nine resting platforms. This gives you a clear idea of the outing: the tower pairs panoramic views from above with a longer climb and several platforms where you can pause.

The tower cannot be reached by car. On foot, the route from either the Idarwald hiking car park or the Stipse car park near Stipshausen covers about 2 km each way. Check trail conditions before setting out. The church and the Idarkopf Tower offer different experiences: one focuses on architecture and furnishings, the other on views and the walk.

More to explore in the wider Birkenfeld destination

The wider Birkenfeld destination offers more nature, culture and outdoor activities in addition to Stipshausen’s local attractions. Part of the Hunsrück-Hochwald National Park lies within the Birkenfeld collective municipality. The Birkenfeld State Museum has permanent exhibitions on the Celts and Romans; Birkenfeld and the Wittelsbach family; ironmaking in the Birkenfeld district; a classroom from around 1930; and the Oldenburg period. This range of topics offers a different focus from the church art in Stipshausen.

You can encounter outdoor art along the 2.5-kilometre Götterallee between the local municipalities of Schwollen and Leisel, where ten colourful, life-size figures of gods stand. Another themed trail is the 1-kilometre Obere Nahe Water Experience Trail in Hoppstädten-Weiersbach, with four access points. It explores the diversity of aquatic life in the Upper Nahe, including barbel and gudgeon, as well as waterbirds such as the kingfisher and dipper, and dragonfly species such as the common damselfly and river clubtail.

The “In the Land of Kites, Storks and More” nature trail has 18 stations around Niederhambach, Schmißberg and Rimsberg. Near Schmißberg, it includes an aviary with the stork pair Lotte and Bernie; the trail also provides information about the habitats of red kites, black storks and other species. The 1.6-kilometre National Park Island Tour around Börfink and Thranenweier offers a different nature experience: information panels explain the rare and endangered arnica meadows, how they formed and how they are protected, as well as the local biodiversity.

Cycling routes offer a variety of themes too. The RadLust-Schleife WasserTräume starts in Birkenfeld, runs through Brücken and Abentheuer, passes a historic ironworks and follows the edge of the national park along the old ore route towards the Saarland border. One stage of the Nahe Cycle Route passes the Environmental Campus in Hoppstädten-Weiersbach and continues to Birkenfeld; a visit to the Birkenfeld State Museum is recommended for this stage. You can therefore consider Stipshausen’s distinctive local attractions and the varied themes of the wider Birkenfeld destination as different interests when planning your trip.

Discover more destinations: Hellertshausen, Bruchweiler, Achtelsbach, Horbruch, Kempfeld, Schauren, Leisel, Abentheuer.

View the wider travel guide: Birkenfeld.