Rieden: Waldsee, Hiking Trails and Church Art

Rieden combines paths around Waldsee with a remarkable church and local history. The lake invites you to take a walk around the water and enjoy nature. With the Traumpfädchen Riedener Seeblick, the Geo-Route R and the Riedener Fußfälle, there are various ways to explore the area outdoors. St. Hubertus also has a building history that dates back at least to Romanesque times.

Hiking and Nature at Waldsee Rieden

The Traumpfädchen Riedener Seeblick is a five-kilometre walking trail around Waldsee Rieden. The Geo-Route R offers a different way to find your bearings: this signposted themed hiking trail runs in and around Rieden, is equipped with information boards, and starts and ends at Waldsee Rieden on Waldseestraße. The two routes offer distinct experiences: the trail’s stated length provides a clear guide for planning your day, while signs and information boards accompany you along the Geo-Route.

If you enjoy walking by the water and taking in nature, Waldsee itself is an obvious focus for your stay. To choose between the two routes, consider whether the trail’s stated length or the Geo-Route’s thematic guidance matters more to you. Before setting out, check the official status of the route you plan to walk.

St. Hubertus and the Riedener Fußfälle

The parish church of St. Hubertus dates back at least to Romanesque times. A Late Gothic choir was later added to the Romanesque church and is now used as a baptismal chapel. The church shows distinct building phases: its older origins and the added choir tell the story not of a single construction date, but of architecture that developed over a long period.

From the church in the town centre, the Way of the Cross of the Riedener Fußfälle leads almost to the site of today’s Waldsee. The seven stations are carved in tuff stone; their images are in the Baroque style, and each station depicts a different scene. The route combines a specific walk through the town with an art-historical perspective. The different motifs invite you to take in each station individually, rather than seeing them only as one continuous series.

The Riedener Passion Play is also associated with the parish church and is performed there every ten years. In preparation for the performance, the village gets ready to welcome more than 10,000 visitors. If you would like to plan your trip around this special event, check the date of the next performance separately.

Which Location Suits Your Stay?

When looking for a holiday apartment in Rieden, first consider what you want to shape your stay: walks by Waldsee and one of the routes described here, or the church and the Fußfälle as cultural highlights. St. Hubertus in the town centre is a specific landmark for the Fußfälle; the Way of the Cross leads from there almost to the site of today’s Waldsee. Use these details to compare the location of your accommodation with the routes you would like to take.

Culture in the Wider Mayen-Koblenz Destination

The wider Mayen-Koblenz destination offers further, distinct cultural attractions. Genovevaburg was built in 1280 by Heinrich von Finstingen, Archbishop of Trier, and is one of Mayen’s landmarks. Sayner Hütte is an anchor point on the European Route of Industrial Heritage and the only monument in Rhineland-Palatinate to have received this distinction. Following restoration, its modern exhibitions and multimedia presentations invite visitors to explore; guided tours and creative workshops are also available.

Sayn Abbey offers another historical perspective: it was founded around 1200, and its abbey church was consecrated in 1202. Its exterior paintings from around 1255 are considered the best-preserved from the High Middle Ages in Germany. At the New Museum Schloss Sayn, Prince Alexander and Princess Gabriela offer a glimpse into the life of their noble family; a children’s area invites visitors to try on historical costumes. These examples are part of the wider Mayen-Koblenz destination and complement, rather than replace, experiences in Rieden.

Discover More Destinations

Discover more destinations: Bell

Back to the wider travel overview: Mendig.