Aull: Lahn Meadows and Alte Burg

Aull is shaped by Lahn meadows that invite you to linger; from here, the view also extends to Schloss Oranienstein in Diez. The Alte Burg adds another, historic touch to the village. The landscape, historic architecture and cycling experiences in the Diez area offer a variety of ways to shape your stay. When looking for accommodation, you can consider which of these aspects interests you most.

Lahn Meadows and a Break at the Hambach

The Lahn meadows shape the local landscape and invite you to linger. The Hambach playground in Aull offers another way to enjoy the outdoors. Its facilities include climbing equipment, swings and sand. There are also shaded seating areas and picnic tables; the water play area is by the Hambach. Play and seating areas sit side by side, so the spot offers more than just a short break along the way. The view of Schloss Oranienstein in Diez adds a cultural touch, even though the palace itself is not in Aull.

The Alte Burg: History from the Outside

Aull’s Alte Burg is a former moated castle, probably built in the 12th century. It may have served as a toll station on a road. The late medieval main building has two half-timbered upper floors and a half-hipped roof. The two-storey extensions with gabled roofs also tell the story of several building phases: they date from the mid-16th and mid-17th centuries. The half-timbering, roof shape and extensions can all be viewed together when looking at the building. Important for visitors: the Alte Burg is privately owned and can only be viewed from the outside.

Cycling between Aull and Diez

The Forest and Meadow Tour passes through Aull by bike. Its return section between Diez and Hambach is about twelve kilometres long, has moderate inclines and runs mostly along a separate cycle path. Nearby, in Diez, the Lahn Valley Cycle Route follows the river downstream. The two routes can be distinguished by the type of ride they offer: the Forest and Meadow Tour has a stated approximate distance and details of the inclines on this section; the Lahn Valley Cycle Route is characterised here mainly by its downstream course.

The Lahn river gardens in Diez also offer a distinct focus by the water. There is a canoe rest area and a motorboat landing stage. These provide further specific riverside locations to visit alongside the cycle routes.

Schloss Oranienstein and Its History

Schloss Oranienstein can be seen from Aull. The palace was built in the 17th and 18th centuries as a residence for a widowed princess; direct ancestors of the Dutch royal family once lived there. Visits are subject to a clear condition: the palace can only be visited as part of a guided tour, which must be booked in advance by telephone. On guided tours, visitors can see historic rooms and the Nassau-Oranien Museum. The museum documents the history of the Dutch royal family. This makes it different from the Alte Burg in Aull, which can only be viewed from the outside.

Rhein-Lahn as the Wider Region

The wider travel destination of Rhein-Lahn extends far beyond Aull. The Rhein-Lahn district includes the area on the right bank of the Rhine at the mouth of the Lahn and the Lahn Valley as far as just before Limburg, near Diez. It also encompasses the southern foothills of the Westerwald towards the Lahn Valley, as well as the northern uplands of the Taunus between the Rhine and the Aar.

Important cultural landscapes are also part of this wider region: the Roman Limes runs through the district. Its remains are still visible today and form part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site Upper Germanic-Raetian Limes. On the right bank of the Rhine, the stretch from Kaub to Lahnstein lies within the Rhein-Lahn district and the UNESCO World Heritage Site Upper Middle Rhine Valley. The 65-kilometre World Heritage Site between Bingen, Rüdesheim and Koblenz includes historic small towns, terraced vineyards and castle ruins. Alongside Aull’s Lahn meadows and architectural history, the wider travel destination offers these additional landscape and cultural themes.

Discover more destinations: Dörnberg, Gückingen, Holzappel, Heistenbach, Laurenburg, Birlenbach, Altendiez, Hirschberg.

Back to the main travel overview: Diez.