Nidderau: Nature Trails and Historic Town Centers

Hiking trails between the Nidder, meadows and forest

The 16.9-kilometer Spessartfährte “NidderAuenFährte” starts at Eichen station. It leads through the Nidderau nature forest and across meadows with views stretching to Frankfurt, the Taunus and the Spessart. The route then follows the Nidder back. Parts of the trail lie within the Wetterau bird sanctuary. Its length, landscape and route make it a specific option for anyone planning a longer day of hiking.

Those who prefer shorter sections will find a map showing marked walking and jogging routes of varying lengths at the large forest car park near the burial forest. Another option is the nature trail in the Windecken and Ostheim districts. Its two independent loops are each about three kilometers long; the starting point is the information board at the entrance to the playground on Mühlberg in Windecken. Numerous interactive stations invite visitors to experiment, touch and smell. The loops are independent of each other, so the trail can be enjoyed as a nature experience in its own right rather than equated with a longer hiking route.

For an outing with an engaging theme, the Planet Trail runs from the Willi-Salzmann-Halle in Windecken along Konrad-Adenauer-Allee to the Catholic church in Heldenbergen. The scale model of the solar system makes the planets the guiding theme of the trail; the walk is informative for young and old alike.

Cycling routes and discoveries at the Wartbaum

The 38-kilometer Hohe Straße Regional Park Route is signposted in both directions and largely follows the course of an old trade route. In Nidderau, it crosses the railway cycling path and the Bonifatius Route. This links a historic route with a longer cycling trail. The Huguenot and Waldensian Trail offers a different cultural perspective: it is a Council of Europe cultural long-distance cycle route, whose Main-Spessart regional loop passes through the districts of Eichen, Windecken and Heldenbergen.

The field flora reserve at the Wartbaum also makes a good subject for a private guided tour. The Nidderau municipal environmental office offers these tours; please contact the office by email to register. This lets you complement a stay around the Wartbaum with a guided exploration of the field flora.

Old town, buildings and regional traditions

Windecken’s old town lies in the Katzbach valley and is bordered to the north by the Nidder. Despite being largely destroyed during the Thirty Years’ War, it has preserved almost all of its medieval layout. Notable buildings include the Hexenturm (Witches’ Tower) and the town wall. The tower is regarded as a landmark and a building that helps define Windecken’s identity. Those interested in the development of historic townscapes will find a different focus here than on the nature and cycling trails. Windecken also has significant Iron Age burial grounds.

Heldenbergen’s town center also tells the story of different aspects of life in the historic village. The Catholic church defines the townscape; the historic center also includes the rectory, two old school buildings, half-timbered houses and farmsteads, as well as houses once occupied by craftspeople, day laborers and farmworkers. In Erbstadt stands the Pfaffenhof, an almost square complex of buildings on what is now the main street. These distinct townscapes can be a reason in their own right to explore Nidderau further when choosing where to stay.

The Hessian Apple Wine and Orchard Meadow Route offers a regional link between landscape and local flavors: its Main-Kinzig regional loop, which passes through Nidderau, goes by natural orchard meadows, educational gardens and trails, cider presses and restaurants, direct-sales farms, natural monuments and other attractions. The loop is currently being revised.

Other places in the same higher-level area: Hasselroth, Hanau, Maintal, Gelnhausen, Birstein, Steinau An Der Straße, Großkrotzenburg and Ronneburg.

Go to the overview of the wider area: Main-Kinzig District.