Discover Henau: Castle Ruins, Hiking and Archaeology
Accommodation in Henau
Henau lies in the Soonwald on a slope that descends southwards towards the Asbach, around 400 metres above sea level. Forests and meadows surround the village. The combination of its hillside location and open and wooded landscapes shapes Henau’s rural character. In Henau, all three themes are linked to specific places or routes.
The wider landscape
Within the broader Rhein-Hunsrück destination, the district encompasses large areas of the Hunsrück, part of the Rhenish Slate Mountains, as well as the left bank of the Upper Middle Rhine Valley. The Soonwald is among the quartzite ridges that extend southwards; in the Middle Rhine Valley area, the Rhine forms the district’s eastern boundary. The Kellenbach runs between the Soonwald and Lützelsoon in a winding, shaded course towards the Nahe. The Rhein-Hunsrück district has extensive, well-developed and signposted cycle paths along the Rhine and through the Hunsrück.
Castle ruins and archaeological traces
Koppenstein Castle Ruins are located within the municipality of Henau. A keep has survived there. A keep is a castle’s defensive tower; at Koppenstein, it is 16 metres high, pentagonal and made of quartzite. Its entrance has been adapted to serve as an observation tower.
Archaeological features in Henau that can be visited include ramparts and burial mounds. Several ramparts made of quartzite blocks lie on the northern slope of Koppensteiner Höhe; one of them measures 125 metres in length. Three burial mounds lie on the eastern flank of Gemündener Höhe, including one surrounded by a rampart. Roman silver coins minted between 217 and 251 AD, found in Winnheck, point to Roman settlers.
Hiking trails and AsbachhĂĽtte
The Soonwaldsteig passes directly by Henau. A circular hike along the Asbach leads to Koppenstein Castle Ruins. This gives you two different points of reference for planning: for the trail, its route through the area is what matters; for the circular hike, the destination at the castle is key. When planning your excursion, you can weigh up whether the trail or the castle is the more important point of reference for you.
AsbachhĂĽtte is a recreational facility in Henau, in the Soonwald-Nahe Nature Park. The grounds include meadows and adjacent woodland, and also provide direct access to the Asbach. The hut can be rented for leisure activities and celebrations. Possible uses include picnics, camping with the family and group outings. The facilities also include a covered barbecue pavilion and a traditional swivel grill.
The site offers electricity and water, as well as pitches for tents and vehicles. However, there are no service hook-ups or wastewater disposal facilities for camping vehicles. For your planning, these are two separate considerations: whether you want to use the available amenities and whether you need vehicle-specific hook-ups or disposal facilities. Access to AsbachhĂĽtte is level.
Discover more destinations: Ney, Woppenroth, Oberwesel, Kirchberg, AlterkĂĽlz, Reich, BĂĽchenbeuren, Gondershausen.
Go to the overall travel overview: Rhein-HunsrĂĽck.
