Limburg a.d. Lahn: Old Town, Art and Routes along the Lahn

Old Town between the Lahn and the Cathedral

The historic old town stretches along the banks of the Lahn across a height difference of more than 70 metres and is home to numerous historic buildings and sights. Its narrow lanes are lined with lovingly restored half-timbered houses and Wilhelminian-era villas. Many house shops, restaurants and cafés, giving the old town a lively, everyday side, too. As you explore, look out for the changes in house styles and the different elevations of the old town.

Limburg Cathedral is the town’s landmark and a masterpiece of Romanesque architecture. The cathedral rises high above Limburg with its distinctive twin-tower façade; inside, its ornate decorations are impressive. The Old Lahn Bridge offers a different view of the town’s history: it dates from the 14th century and connects the old town with the opposite bank of the Lahn. The cathedral and the bridge each make their own mark—Romanesque architecture on the one hand, a historic structure spanning the river on the other.

Discover Art and History

The art collections of the City of Limburg comprise around 5,000 objects by more than 40 artists. The municipal exhibition venue for the art collections opened on 20 September 1985 with the exhibition “Engert and the Theatre.” A selection of works from the collections has been shown regularly over the past four decades. These displays have been supplemented by works by contemporary and regional artists. Alongside the collection, art lovers can therefore find changing artistic perspectives as part of the exhibition’s history.

Green Spaces and a Route with Stations

In 2019, the Domplateau was transformed from a former cemetery into a park-like space and invites visitors to linger. The Limburg Medicinal Herb Garden offers a different focus: established in 2003, it contains around 150 medicinal and culinary plants intended to be touched. Tours are available for interested residents and groups. The garden thus combines learning about plants with a sensory introduction to medicinal and culinary herbs.

Those interested in religious art and history can include the Way of the Cross in their travel plans. It runs for more than 14 stations from the Josaphat Valley up to the Chapel of the Cross on Greifenberg. The route, as described, makes the climb an essential part of the experience; this sets it apart from a stay focused primarily on exhibitions, town views or a break in a green space.

By Bike or at the Weekly Market

The Lahn Cycle Route passes directly through Limburg, following the Lahn and passing through historic towns. This offers a different focus for a trip centred on cycling than an exploration of the old town. The Limburg weekly market takes place in the town centre at Neumarkt, adding another urban spot to your travel plans. Together with the shops, restaurants and cafés in the old town lanes, it offers a distinct glimpse of everyday life in the town.

When choosing a holiday apartment, you can consider which of these aspects of Limburg matter most for your stay: historic architecture and art, a route with stations, plants and a quieter break, or a cycling trip along the Lahn. These experiences cater to different interests, without requiring you to settle on just one reason for travelling.

More places to include in your travel plans: Dornburg, Mengerskirchen, Weilmünster, Bad Camberg, Selters, Weilburg, Hintermeilingen and Hadamar.

For the broader travel overview: Limburg-Weilburg.