Discover Hachenburg: Half-timbered houses, gardens and history

Hachenburg combines a distinctive historic town centre with cultural discoveries and activities in the surrounding region. Restored half-timbered houses and churches shape the character of the Old Market Square; narrow lanes, cafés and restaurants add to the townscape. The Baroque Hachenburg Castle stands at the upper end of the square.

Old Market Square, castle and gardens

The Old Market Square is associated with the former Franciscan church, the castle church and a Baroque market fountain. The fountain is crowned by the double-tailed Sayn lion. Take time to explore the square and you’ll discover not only its half-timbered architecture but also these striking links to the past.

In the historic centre, the reading garden is a green oasis right beside the Vogtshof. The extensive castle garden adjoins the castle. A short section of the Druidensteig offers another perspective on the town’s green spaces as it passes through Hachenburg’s castle garden, with its old trees. Check trail conditions and signage before setting out.

Museum and brewing culture

The Westerwald Landscape Museum presents rural life and work in eight typical regional buildings. You can also learn how carpenters, potters, blacksmiths and other craftspeople made their tools. The focus is therefore not just on objects, but also on the craftsmanship involved in making them.

Museum festivals include hands-on activities, animals, agricultural machinery and craft demonstrations. Dates and programmes may change. The Hachenburg Experience Brewery also offers insights into brewing culture through beer experience tours and brewing courses. Individual dates can be arranged by phone; check the current booking arrangements in advance.

Activities in Hachenburg and the surrounding region

Hachenburg offers swimming, tennis, horse riding, golf and mountain biking, giving you a range of activities to choose from when planning your days. Further afield, the Westerwald Lake District is associated with sailing and surfing. This natural area has seven ponds, and swimming is also among the leisure activities in the Hachenburg Westerwald. Nearby, groomed cross-country ski trails and a small ski lift add to the winter options. Hiking in the Kroppacher Schweiz is another option in the Hachenburg Westerwald.

Guided town tours offer a way to experience Hachenburg’s more than 700-year history. Availability and times may change, so check the latest dates in advance. For a cycling trip, a circular route starts in Hachenburg and runs through the Upper Wied Valley; it’s a good idea to check the latest route information before setting off. Hachenburg can be reached by train via Hachenburg station. Check the current timetable before travelling.

Choose the focus that suits your trip

When looking for accommodation in Hachenburg, it helps to first decide what interests you: would you like to focus on the town’s history, with the Old Market Square, castle and museum, or also include cycling and hiking in the region?

More to discover in the Westerwald

The Westerwald also has long-distance hiking trails with a range of themes. The WesterwaldSteig is 235 kilometres long and has 16 stages. The Druidensteig covers 94 kilometres over seven day stages, passing through seven river valleys and offering more than 30 geoinformation points. Check the latest route information before setting out.

Stöffel Park is a former basalt quarry covering around 140 hectares in the Westerwald, where industrial heritage, geological history and nature come together. The TERTIÄRUM features a fossil exhibition that includes the famous “Stöffel Mouse”; the fossils document around 25 million years of Earth’s history. The landscape also offers striking landmarks: Holzbach Gorge is a breakthrough valley about one kilometre long, with basalt walls up to 30 metres high. At 657 metres, Fuchskaute is the highest elevation in the Westerwald.

Discover more destinations

Krümmel, Niedererbach, Gehlert, Giesenhausen, Hartenfels, Neustadt/Westerwald, Staudt, Lochum

Back to the main travel overview: Westerwald.