Wallmerod: Cycling on a former railway line and baking traditions

Wallmerod can be discovered in two ways: along a former railway line and through the town’s and surrounding area’s small-scale building and baking traditions. The Wäller ALLEen-Weg makes cycling and hiking its defining theme, while the Christuskirche, Altes Backhaus and Heiligenhäuschen provide historical highlights. If you are looking for accommodation, you can start by considering whether tours or local history will shape your stay.

Cycling and hiking trails around Wallmerod

The Wäller ALLEen-Weg is a cycling and hiking trail that follows the disused railway line between Wallmerod and Westerburg. It is 16 kilometres long. The gradients are gentle, and there are several places to stop for a short break along the way. The trail is suitable for family outings with children; its smooth asphalt surface also makes it suitable for inline skating. It is part of the Rhineland-Palatinate Cycle Route. The route description states that its signage follows the Rhineland-Palatinate cycling route guidelines.

In 2021, the section between Wallmerod railway station and Bilkheim was upgraded with a smoother trail alignment, benches, toilets and accessibility improvements. When choosing a route, it is also worth noting the difference between the 16-kilometre Wäller ALLEen-Weg and a longer circuit: the Nassau-Wäller Cycle Circuit covers 58 kilometres from Westerburg via Wallmerod, Elz, Hadamar and Dornburg, and back to Westerburg.

The Backesdörfer-Tour starts at the former railway station in Wallmerod and can also be joined at points along the route. It runs mainly along agricultural and forestry tracks and local roads; most of it is paved. This means the options differ in more than just distance: the Wäller ALLEen-Weg focuses on the former railway line and its smooth asphalt surface, while the Backesdörfer-Tour connects a variety of tracks and roads.

The blue and green WällerLand Cabrio routes also pass through Wallmerod. The blue route goes via Wallmerod to Limburg and then follows the Lahn to Weilburg. The green route runs via Wallmerod and Elz through the Gelbach valley towards the Westerwald lake district. These regional routes complement the local selection of hiking and cycling trails.

Baking traditions and architectural history

In villages between Wallmerod and Westerburg, the tradition of baking bread together as a community has been revived. This adds a culinary and communal dimension to the region, alongside its tours.

The Christuskirche was built between 1883 and 1885 as the town’s second Catholic chapel. A comprehensive renovation in 1985 was followed by another major refurbishment of the walls and interior in 2009–2010. The Altes Backhaus at Bahnhofstraße 1 tells a different story: it dates from the second half or the end of the 19th century. Its ground floor is built of quarry stone and supports a half-timbered longhouse with brick infill.

The Heiligenhäuschen in Wallmerod is a small place for prayer and processions, probably built towards the end of the 18th century. Together, the three buildings show different facets of local history: a chapel with several phases of renovation, a bakehouse notable for its contrasting materials, and a small religious site whose date of origin is only approximate.

Wallmerod as a possible base for an overnight stay

If you are considering Wallmerod as a base for an overnight stay, you can focus your search on the experiences that matter to you: the 16-kilometre trail along the former railway line, a longer circuit through several towns, or architectural history and baking traditions.

Discover more destinations

Discover more destinations: Kuhnhöfen, Holler, Mudenbach, Nister, Girod, Nistertal, Oberelbert, Caan.

For the higher-level travel overview: Westerwald.