Kiedrich: Organ, Riesling Festival and Hiking Trails

Kiedrich combines the atmosphere of a Gothic wine village with medieval art and music, a Riesling festival, and a trail through vineyards into the forest. There are several reasons to plan a stay: around the date of an event, with a focus on cultural history, or with time for a longer hike.

Riesling Festival and Wine

The Kiedrich Riesling Festival is one of the highlights of the annual events calendar. It takes place every year on the third weekend in May. If you are planning your trip around it, check the specific dates for the year in question. This will help you plan your festival visit as part of your stay.

Another wine-related attraction is the Kiedrich wine-tasting stand. It is located in the Wasseros vineyard, below the Weil winery's agricultural hall. There are seating areas around the stand.

Organ, Choral Singing and Medieval Heritage

Germany's oldest playable organ has been preserved in Kiedrich. It dates from around 1500 and has about 960 pipes. The Kiedrich Madonna, dated to around 1330–1350, has also been preserved in the town. These two works represent different chapters in art history: the Madonna belongs to the 14th century, while the organ dates from around 1500.

The choral high mass with the Kiedrich choirboys takes place at 9:30 a.m. on the second, third and fourth Sundays of the month. No services are held during the Hesse school holidays; take this restriction into account when planning your visit.

St. Michael's Chapel stands opposite St. Valentine's Church. It was built in 1440/44 as a mortuary chapel in the churchyard, with an ossuary, also known as a charnel house. Its historical purpose and the ossuary make the chapel a destination in its own right, alongside the musical and artistic heritage. Kiedrich also holds the Schnorrer Festival on the Thursday before Carnival.

Castle Views and Hiking

At Scharfenstein Castle Ruins, the view and access should be considered separately: from the barbecue area in front of the tower, you can look out over the vineyards towards Kiedrich and the Rhine Valley. For safety reasons, the keep is not open to everyone. You can enquire by calling 06123/9050-11; during the bird-breeding season, from mid-March to mid-July, the keep remains closed. If you are considering a visit, check access arrangements in advance.

For a longer outing, the Kiedrich Forest Hiking Trail leads from the cultural sights of the Gothic wine village through vineyards into the nearby forest. The route is about 18 kilometres long. Check current conditions before setting out. The possible reasons for travelling therefore differ considerably: an event held on a specific date, musical and historical experiences, or a longer route through vineyards and forest.

The Rheingau-Taunus District as a Wider Setting

The wider regional setting can also complement your travel plans. The Upper German-Raetian Limes extends for about 35 kilometres within the Rheingau-Taunus District; it has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since July 2005. Within the Rhein-Taunus Nature Park, the Limes runs for around 33 kilometres.

Through the municipal areas of Rüdesheim am Rhein and Lorch, the Rheingau-Taunus District forms part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site of the Upper Middle Rhine Valley. Its cultural landscape is shaped by steep river slopes, steep-slope and terrace viticulture, numerous castles, historic townscapes and the Rhine. The same wider travel destination also offers 14 Riesling loops: circular routes of 4 to 8 kilometres between Flörsheim am Main and Lorch am Rhein, dedicated to Riesling, viticulture and the cultural landscape of the Rheingau. Compared with the roughly 18-kilometre Kiedrich Forest Hiking Trail, these loops cover a different stated route length.

Discover more destinations: Hohenstein, Oestrich-Winkel, Lorch, Eltville Am Rhein, Geisenheim, Idstein, Heidenrod, Bad Schwalbach.

For the wider travel overview: Rheingau-Taunus District.