Neunkirchen-Seelscheid: Water, Trails and History
Accommodation in Neunkirchen-Seelscheid
Neunkirchen-Seelscheid reveals several sides within a compact area: the Wahnbach Reservoir shapes the landscape in the southern part of the municipality, trails wind through valleys and across uplands, and at Sankt Margareta you can encounter art from the 12th century. Whether you would rather hike, discover medicinal plants or admire historical details during your stay, the local attractions offer different points of focus for planning your trip.
Landscape between reservoir and nature reserve
The Wahnbach Reservoir has a surface area of 225 hectares and shapes the landscape in the southern part of the municipality. The Naafbach Valley, much of which is designated a nature reserve, offers a different natural setting. Thus, the expanse of water and the protected valley stand side by side as two distinct landscape features.
The “Auf Försters Fährten” trail leads from Neunkirchen into the wooded Wendbach Valley and up to the uplands of Niederwennerscheid. One of the highlights of this route is the Drei-Kronen-Linde near Pohlhausen. Another circular trail, about 23 kilometres long, runs around the Wahnbach Reservoir and is described as challenging.
Circular trails with different points of focus
The 16.5-kilometre Herb Trail is a circular route starting in the district of Seelscheid. Twelve information boards share useful facts about medicinal plants. Compared with the approximately 23-kilometre circular route around the reservoir, it is shorter; both tours therefore offer a practical reference point when choosing a route. The Herb Trail is considered moderately difficult, while its fitness requirement is also rated as difficult. Distance alone, then, does not tell you everything about the level of challenge.
If you enjoy learning more about plants while out and about, the Herb Trail gives you a dedicated theme to explore. “Auf Försters Fährten,” by contrast, focuses on the route through the wooded Wendbach Valley and up to the uplands of Niederwennerscheid. When planning a hike, you can take these different themes into account, along with the respective distance and difficulty.
Art, a mill and local discoveries
The historic church of Sankt Margareta contains ceiling and wall paintings dating back to the 12th century. They complement the landscape with a specific art-historical point of interest.
The mill shop at Horbacher Mühle sells flour, meal, baking tins and other products on site; advice is also available. As opening hours may change, check the current hours before visiting.
More things to explore in the Rhein-Sieg district
Four regions are relevant to tourism in the Rhein-Sieg district: Siebengebirge, Siegtal, Bergisches Land and the Rhein-Voreifel region. As a distinct historical destination in the district, Stadt Blankenberg offers another cultural highlight. The settlement grew out of a castle that Counts Heinrich II and Eberhart II of Sayn had built on a rocky spur above the Sieg.
The local history museum in Stadt Blankenberg is housed in the Katharinenturm, a gate tower in the new town dating from the 13th century. A viewing platform with a telescope on the Georgsturm of the castle offers views across the Siegtal and the surrounding area. The wine-growing museum in the so-called “Runenhaus” also provides insight into the centuries-long history of winegrowing in Stadt Blankenberg; the wine trail through the former vineyards starts there.
The hiking routes listed for the district include the Natursteig Sieg, the Bergischer Weg and the Rheinsteig. There are also tourist cycling routes through varied natural and cultural landscapes, for leisurely cyclists, sporty riders and e-bike users. Alongside the local trails, these offer further distinct options if you would like to plan a stay in the Rhein-Sieg district around a wider range of themes.
Discover more destinations: Alfter, Much, Ruppichteroth, Siegburg, Eitorf, Hennef, Meckenheim, Troisdorf
For the main travel overview: Rhein-Sieg district.
