Patersberg: Views, Hiking Trails and History

At the Three Castles View, Patersberg reveals its scenic side: the view stretches across the Upper Middle Rhine Valley to St. Goar, St. Goarshausen, Katz Castle, Maus Castle, Rheinfels and the Loreley Rock. The panorama brings together villages, castles and the striking rock. Circular hiking trails, the Königsetappe (King’s Stage) of the Rheinsteig and the village’s history add to this impressive view.

Panoramas and Trails

Patersberg offers circular hiking trails and lies on the designated “Königsetappe” (“King’s Stage”) of the Rheinsteig; viewpoints characterize the surrounding landscape. The Loreley Extratour also passes through the village, where hikers can join the route. From the Patersberg cemetery, the route follows the Forstbach valley. Signs there point to Bornsmühle as the next waypoint.

The Loreley Extratour is 14.3 kilometres long and passes through St. Goarshausen, Patersberg and Bornich. Its scenery alternates between deeply cut valleys and almost level plateaus. The route combines a riverside path with viewpoints high above the Rhine and includes some elevation gain. It passes through the “Rheinhänge zwischen Lahnstein und Kaub” (Rhine slopes between Lahnstein and Kaub) Special Area of Conservation (SAC), crosses the “Mittelrheintal” (Middle Rhine Valley) Natura 2000 Special Protection Area (SPA) and the “Rheinhänge von Burg Gutenfels bis zur Loreley” (Rhine slopes from Gutenfels Castle to the Loreley) nature reserve.

There are also practical details to help you plan your route: the Loreley Extratour is accessible by public transport. It starts at the Loreley Visitor Centre or St. Goarshausen market square. Bus stops along the route are located at St. Goarshausen market square and on the Loreley Plateau.

Church, Houses and History

The Evangelical Church of Patersberg is another notable landmark. Its tower is early Gothic, while the interior has a Romanesque character; its present form may date to around 1200. The church was originally dedicated to Saint Pancras. It may have been a pilgrimage church in the early Middle Ages.

Older routes are also reflected in the village’s history. Patersberg lies on a prehistoric route that was probably used by Celtic groups. Near Haushecker Forest, a section was uncovered that had been developed as a Roman road for heavy transport. Patersberg was first mentioned in a document in 1061: at the time, the village was listed in a register of the Abbey of Bleidenstadt’s holdings, which is considered a forgery.

The village also preserves traces of the period after the 1584 fire: many half-timbered houses rebuilt afterward still stand in Patersberg. The church, routes and houses each tell a different part of the village’s history—from a possible pilgrimage site and the Roman road to the rebuilt buildings.

The Wider Rhein-Lahn Region

The wider Rhein-Lahn destination opens up a view from the village to a range of landscapes. Rhein-Lahn-Kreis includes areas on the right bank of the Rhine around the mouth of the Lahn, the Lahn Valley as far as just before Limburg near Diez, the southern foothills of the Westerwald towards the Lahn Valley, and the northern Taunus uplands between the Rhine and the Aar. The district’s section on the right bank of the Rhine, from Kaub to Lahnstein, lies in the Loreley Valley and the UNESCO World Heritage Site Upper Middle Rhine Valley. This World Heritage Site covers a 65-kilometre stretch between Bingen, Rüdesheim and Koblenz, with historic small towns, terraced vineyards and castle ruins. Within this wider destination, Patersberg has its own focus: Rhine views, hiking trails and local history.

More Destinations

Discover more destinations: Lahnstein, Burgschwalbach, Balduinstein, Attenhausen, Nastätten, Hahnstätten, Loreley, Nassau

Go to the main travel overview: Rhein-Lahn.