Niedernhausen: Forest Trails, Geological History and Historic Traces

Niedernhausen combines forest hikes with unusual insights into geological history and traces of several centuries. The Geo Adventure Trail between Oberjosbach and Oberseelbach covers nearly 5 kilometres and takes you through 460 million years of geological history. If you would rather explore the forest ecosystem, the Oberjosbach Forest Adventure Trail offers insights at more than 30 stations. This lets you choose different focuses for your stay: geological connections or the diversity of the forest.

Hiking between the forest and the districts

The Forest Adventure Trail is a circular route about 3.5 kilometres long; the stated duration is approximately 1 to 1.5 hours. These approximate details can help you fit the loop into your day’s plans. Another option is the Eichhorn Trail: this medium-length forest hiking trail has relatively few inclines and runs along wide, comfortable gravel, meadow and forest-floor paths. It passes through the districts of Oberjosbach, Niedernhausen and Oberseelbach. If you take inclines and trail surfaces into account when choosing a route, you can see how they match your preferences.

The Bembel Trail is another hiking route that crosses the municipality. A cross-border hiking trail also runs between Niedernhausen-Niederseelbach and Idstein-Dasbach. The hiking routes connect the individual districts and link up with long-distance trails. The Historical Walk through Niedernhausen is divided into several sections; they do not have to be completed together or in a set order. This offers a choice of ways to explore, from forest trails to a walk taken in separate sections.

Cyclists can also include Niedernhausen in their plans: the fifth stage of the Hessian Cycle Route R6 runs partly through the municipality. This is a different way to experience the region than exploring it on foot. Hohe Kanzel, Niedernhausen’s local mountain, is the municipality’s highest point at 591 metres. This striking elevation adds to the picture of a place where the forest and landscape help shape your stay.

Historic sites and local stories

Niedernhausen’s history is reflected in individual buildings and places of remembrance. The Protestant Johanneskirche in the district of Niederseelbach dates from the 16th century. Mariä Geburt, the former Catholic parish church, was built as a chapel in 1881–1885 and has been the seat of its own parish since 1921. The two churches illustrate different chapters in the area’s history.

The spa quarter tells the story of a different era: its villas from the late 19th and early 20th centuries bear witness to Niedernhausen’s former importance as a climatic health resort. The Romans marked their northern frontier along today’s boundary between Niedernhausen and Idstein. The Upper German-Raetian Limes was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2005. Those interested in local and regional history can therefore discover both more recent architectural landmarks and a much older frontier history.

The Schillertempel is a rustic wooden pavilion with seating and views, situated above the railway tracks at Niedernhausen station. Niedernhausen’s Heimat- und Verkehrsverein (local heritage and tourism association) had it built in 1905 in memory of the 100th anniversary of Friedrich Schiller’s death. The Felsenkeller, also known as the Eiskeller, has another story of how it was used: ice was once stored there, and during the Second World War it was used as an air-raid shelter. For many years, the Mariengrotte was a stop on Niedernhausen’s Corpus Christi procession.

Oberseelbach has its own distinctive details. The village fountain makes for a brief, worthwhile stop along the route. Its cast-iron fountain basin has a shape typical of the Taunus and Westerwald regions. The Backes houses a working, municipally owned bread oven, which was extensively restored in 2023 with funding from the Rheingau-Taunus district. In Niedernhausen, the association Alte Kirche Niedernhausen e.V. preserves the former church as the Zentrum Alte Kirche (ZAK) and organises numerous cultural events there.

When choosing a holiday apartment, these different interests may help you decide: would you like to focus on hiking routes and forest themes, or are you especially drawn to historic sites and culture? Niedernhausen offers ways to explore both, without requiring you to limit yourself to just one kind of discovery.

More local guides

More local guides: Heidenrod, Lorch, Taunusstein, Hohenstein, Waldems, Rüdesheim Am Rhein, Eltville Am Rhein, Hünstetten.

Return to the main travel overview: Rheingau-Taunus-Kreis.