Marienthal between the Pilgrimage Church and Hiking Trails

Marienthal combines an impressive church history with hiking trails through the Taunus landscape, vineyards, forests, and meadows.

Pilgrimage Church and Monastery History

The focal point is the Marienthal pilgrimage church. It originated from a chapel built in 1313, which was expanded into a church in 1326 and consecrated on September 8, 1330, by Archbishop Baldwin of Trier. At the main portal, the gable, finial, and a tympanum from the early 14th century stand out.

The miraculous image of Marienthal is particularly expressive. The small Vesper image depicts Mary after the Deposition from the Cross, with her dead son on her lap, and is considered one of the earliest Vesper images. The Crucifixion group, with its larger-than-life figures of Christ on the cross, Mary, and John, is also one of the site's remarkable works of art. It is considered a medieval work, probably from the 15th or 16th century.

The history extends beyond the church. In 1468, the world's first monastery printing press was established at Marienthal Monastery. Behind the church and the pilgrims' square is also the Stations of the Cross, a spacious complex consecrated on September 8, 1859. The Little Francis Garden next to the pilgrims' square was created in 1915 and redesigned in 2012.

Hiking along the Elsterbach and the Taunus Hillside

Marienthal Monastery and the pilgrimage church are located on the sunny southern slope of the Taunus. The Elsterbach flows through the monastery complex, offering an opportunity to take in the surroundings in a peaceful atmosphere. When planning your trip, you can therefore combine a cultural visit with a hike, without every day of your holiday having to focus on the same activity.

The Mühlenwanderweg follows the Elsterbach for 5.5 kilometers from Marienthal Monastery almost to its mouth at the Rhine. An approximately 12-kilometer-long Mühlenwanderweg through the Elsterbach Valley leads from Winkel via Johannisberg to Marienthal Monastery and passes eight mills that are still standing today. The five-kilometer-long Mönchspfadweg begins at the Catholic community center in Marienthal. Those who prefer a historic route can follow the Mönchspfad: it connected the monasteries of Johannisberg and Eibingen via the Geisenheim district and was already documented in 1356 as a path used by monks.

Which Location Suits Your Holiday?

For travel by public transport, bus route 185 runs at regular intervals from Geisenheim railway station to Marienthal, stopping at Rosengärtchen. The stop is about one kilometer from the monastery. Various hiking trails also lead from Geisenheim and Rüdesheim to Marienthal, each taking about an hour to walk. When choosing your accommodation, you can therefore consider whether you want to focus on directly exploring the monastery's history or on longer excursions through the landscape.

Another option for a varied day is the Lichtweg, with 14 stations ranging from the Resurrection to the sending of the Holy Spirit. For your further travel planning, you can also take a look at Stephanshausen and Johannisberg.

For the higher-level travel overview: Geisenheim.