Discover Seck: Gorge, ponds and history

Seck can be explored on several levels: the Holzbach Gorge brings a striking rocky landscape into view, the Secker Ponds combine water, walking paths and a range of uses, and St. Kilian and Seligenstatt tell stories of architectural and monastic history. So when planning your visit, it matters not only whether you want to hike or spend time by the water. The scale also varies: a circular walk of around three kilometres sits alongside a route linking several places and a long-distance hiking trail through the Westerwald.

Hiking in the Holzbach Gorge

The R 29 is a circular walk of around three kilometres through the Holzbach Gorge Nature Reserve. The starting point is the car park at the Hof-Café by Dappricher Hof in Seck. The gorge itself is a narrow valley about one kilometre long, with basalt walls 20 to 30 metres high. The Holzbach breakthrough area was placed under protection in 1929 and designated a nature reserve in 1961.

The VR13 takes a different approach: this circular route links the ruins of Seligenstatt Monastery, the Secker Ponds, Hofgut Dapprich and Seck. It is considered well marked; a hiking map or the free Rheinland-Pfalz erleben app is recommended for navigation. To reach the VR13, drive from Hellenhahn-Schellenberg via the B255 and K51; parking is available shortly before Seck. Check the latest route information before setting out, as the route and access may change temporarily.

The Hof-Café at the Holzbach Gorge serves homemade cakes and tarts. If you plan to stop there, check before travelling whether they are available.

The Secker Ponds: two different sizes, different uses

The Secker Pond recreation area comprises a large pond covering ten hectares and a smaller one covering four hectares. Paved paths invite visitors to take a stroll, and fishing is possible at the smaller pond. The larger pond has a campsite, restaurant, sunbathing lawn and children's playground. This gives you several ways to enjoy your stay by the water: the two ponds differ in size, and the listed facilities complement the walking paths with other options. The playground is a specific detail that may be useful for families with children.

This place also has a history: Prince Moritz Heinrich of Nassau-Hadamar had the ponds created in 1672. On the 5-Seen-Radweg, the Secker Pond is the second lake on the route.

Church and monastic history

St. Kilian brings together several phases of construction. After a major fire, the church was rebuilt in the neo-Romanesque style between 1878 and 1880. A late Romanesque baptismal font from the 13th century survived from the old church; a large rectangular hall was added during an extension in 1963. The font and the later hall thus reflect different periods in the building's history.

Seligenstatt Monastery was first mentioned in 1181 and founded by Laach Abbey. A memorial stone and wall remains mark what has survived. There was also a former hunting lodge near the monastery ruins, where officials stayed during the annual fish harvests. Together, these details offer a glimpse of the former monastery complex and the ponds' historical use.

Exploring the wider Westerwald hiking area

In the wider Westerwald destination, the WesterwaldSteig is a 235-kilometre long-distance hiking trail with 16 stages. The stage from Rennerod to Westerburg passes directly by the Secker Ponds. The difference in scale can help you plan: alongside the approximately three-kilometre R 29 is a multi-stage trail that connects the Secker Ponds with a longer hiking route. Check the distances and stage details in the current tour planner before departure.

Discover more destinations

Discover more destinations: Meudt, Dehlingen, Westernohe, Langenhahn, Maxsain, Oberhaid, Selters, Nentershausen.

Back to the main travel overview: Westerwald.