Heilberscheid: Chapels, Basalt and Trails

Basalt, chapels and places of remembrance shape Heilberscheid’s character. The municipality is located in Nassau Nature Park on the heights of the Gelbach Valley. In the town center is Heckstein, a small former basalt quarry. Another connection to this rock can be seen at the Hettenstein open-air stage: it is located in an old quarry, built of basalt, and has an exposed basalt wall. These two basalt sites therefore serve different purposes: one is a former quarry, while the other is a stage whose quarry setting is part of its appearance.

Chapels and places of remembrance

The Marienkapelle was built in 1889/1890 and consecrated on August 18, 1890; services have been held there ever since. The chapel houses a carved wooden Madonna, which returned to the parish in 2016 and is once again kept in the chapel. The Mariengrotte is also part of local devotional life: it was created in the disused Hettenstein quarry and dedicated in 1954, together with its statue. Every year on the patronal feast of the Assumption of Mary, a procession makes its way to the grotto.

A wayside cross dating from 1899 commemorates an agreement to hold Sunday services in Heilberscheid during the winter for three years. It was erected in gratitude for this agreement. Former settlements also have their own memorials: since 1984, a wayside cross has commemorated the former settlement of Oberisselbach and its residents. A forest service is held annually at the abandoned settlement site on the first Sunday in September. If you plan to travel there for it, check the date in advance.

The former settlement of Sespenroth is commemorated by a wayside cross and an information board. In 2026, the vanished village near Heilberscheid can be experienced virtually using augmented reality along the GelbACHTrail. Two audio dramas tell the story from different perspectives: in one, a grandfather explains the village’s difficult situation to his grandson; in the other, a mother encourages her child below deck on the emigrant ship Leander.

Trails for different distances

The GelbACHTrail offers a broader perspective on the region. The route, just under 22 kilometers long, runs from Montabaur in the southern Westerwald to Obernhof on the Lahn. It offers opportunities to enjoy nature and views, discover art, and explore history in Nassau Nature Park. Eight additional hiking trails connect to the GelbACHTrail, offering further ways to discover nature, culture and history.

For a shorter outing, try the Heilberscheid Forest Discovery Trail: the approximately two-kilometer circular route is near the barbecue hut and includes eleven stations. These include a wooden xylophone, a model charcoal kiln, a barefoot path and an insect hotel. Four marked Nordic walking routes around Heilberscheid offer a different choice of distance: they are 4.5 to 14.5 kilometers long and start and finish at the barbecue hut. The different lengths and route types help you choose between a circuit with activity stations and a longer Nordic walking route.

Barbecue hut and dining

The Heilberscheid barbecue hut is equipped with a stove and an open fireplace for heating, as well as outdoor grills and a fire pit. If you are considering making a booking, confirm the facilities in advance. At the Dorfschänke Heilberscheid, you can enjoy food and drinks; family celebrations are also catered for. Check before your trip whether the establishment is currently open.

Discover more destinations: Nister, Wied, Rennerod, Dehlingen, Atzelgift, Goddert, Bad Marienberg and Dreifelden.

Back to the overview of destinations: Westerwald.