Discover Rettert: Hiking Trails, the Limes and Half-Timbered Houses

Rettert forms the southern tip of Nassau Nature Park and is also shaped by the route of the Limes. At the Hasenbach, by the Sauerbrunnen springs and in the historic village setting, you can encounter different sides of the town. For planning your trip, you can choose from hiking trails, Roman history and long-standing building traditions—topics that can be given different weight depending on your interests.

Hikes between the stream and the Limes

A 3-kilometre trail starts at the cemetery car park in Rettert. It descends through the forest to the Sauerbrunnen spring and the Hasenbach, then continues along flower-rich forest edges to the outdoor swimming pool. The route links forest, stream and a named destination; its stated length provides a specific point of reference for planning.

Another circular hike from Rettert follows the Hessenstraße to Holzhausen Roman fort, continues along the Limes Hiking Trail and returns via the former route of the Nassau Narrow Gauge Railway. The combination of a Roman site, the Limes trail and a former railway line gives this circuit its own character. The two route descriptions have different points of focus: the trail from the cemetery car park is specified as 3 kilometres long, while the circuit is described by its stops and sections.

Rettert is also one of six municipalities that jointly developed the Three Forts Circular Trail. The route uses sections of the Loreley-Aar Cycle Route, the Limes Long-Distance Hiking Trail and the German Limes Cycle Route. Its main Limes attractions include Holzhausen Fort, Pfarrhofen Small Fort, Watchtower 2/25 and the reconstructed Pohl Limes Fort. One variant follows the Hessenstraße to Rettert and then runs alongside the Rettertbach into the Hasenbach Valley.

The Hasenbach, Sauerbrunnen springs and Limes history

The Hasenbach rises in the Rettert area next to the Limes. Two mineral springs, the Sauerbrunnen, lie directly beside the stream. Remains of a Roman villa with a bathhouse were also found at the Hasenbach spring. The Limes runs through the municipality and has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2005. These natural features and archaeological history are among the specific topics you can discover when exploring Rettert.

Church, half-timbered houses and local traditions

The listed Protestant parish church dates from the 17th or 18th century and has a Gothic west tower. Parts of Rheinstraße and Pfarrgasse around the church form a designated conservation area, within which the church is located. To the west, five farmsteads retain residential buildings from the 17th and 18th centuries with half-timbered facades. Together, these details show different elements of the village’s historic character, from the church to the former farmsteads.

The Fahlerkerb, celebrated in Rettert every three years, is part of local tradition. Its history goes back centuries. Landgasthof Gemmer also has its own distinction: it is considered one of Germany’s oldest distilleries still in operation and is associated with the production of single malt whisky. If you are interested, check directly with the venue for current production and visitor options.

Rettert within the wider Rhein-Lahn destination

The landscape of the wider Rhein-Lahn destination extends beyond Rettert. Rhein-Lahn district comprises the area on the right bank of the Rhine around the mouth of the Lahn, the Lahn Valley up to just before Limburg near Diez, the southern foothills of the Westerwald towards the Lahn Valley, and the northern highlands of the Taunus between the Rhine and the Aar. The Limes is also significant at this wider scale: it crosses the district, and visible remains are part of the Upper German-Raetian Limes UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Start choosing by considering which experiences you would like to include in your plans.

Discover more destinations

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