Waldbreitbach between oil mill history and Christmas village

Church and oil mill: discover the past

The Catholic parish church of the Assumption of Mary was founded by the Teutonic Order in the 13th century. Only the tower from that period remains. On the upper floor, Ionic columns divide its twin arcades. Since 1983, the tower has been designated a protected cultural monument. Since 1989, the church has also displayed its large natural-root nativity scene. In 1998, it was listed in the Guinness Book of Records as the largest natural-root nativity scene.

Another chapter in the town’s history is told by the oil mill on the Wied. It was first granted a license in 1676; the oak drive mechanism of the edge runner mill dates from its reconstruction in 1700. The mill is considered the oldest surviving oil mill of this type of construction in the Rhineland. At a restored oil mill, visitors are shown how the mill works—an insight into the craft that brings historic technology to life.

The history of the Chapel of the Cross is also clearly defined: Pastor Frederici had it built in 1694 at the edge of town, in the direction of Hausen, on the banks of the Wied. It is used for church services. Those interested in churches and historic buildings will find several examples in Waldbreitbach, from the parish church founded in the Middle Ages to the chapel dating from the late 17th century.

Nativity scenes and crafts on the Wied

For more than 30 years, Waldbreitbach has transformed itself into the Waldbreitbach Christmas Village. The entire town is decorated with festive attractions and numerous nativity scenes. In addition to the natural-root nativity scene in the parish church, the nativity scene museum on the Kleine Wäller Wied-Runde displays 2,500 nativity scenes from around the world. The craft museum on the same route is housed in a half-timbered building more than 300 years old. These featured stops bring together nativity scenes from different countries and a historic building that tells its own story of craftsmanship.

The Kleine Wäller Wied-Runde also has a boat rental where rowing boats and pedal boats are available. This offers different options when choosing how to spend your time in town: nativity scenes and craft history for a culturally focused stay, and boats as another way to spend time on the water.

Wäller Tour W3 and Klosterberg

The Wäller Tour W3 follows varied trails through forests, meadows and fields south and west of Waldbreitbach. A Kneipp basin is located directly on the route. It is fed by an iron-rich mountain spring originating in a former ore mine tunnel. There is free parking with public toilets for the W3 on Marktstraße—a useful landmark if you plan to include this tour in your itinerary.

A pilgrimage trail in the Wied valley begins at St. Marienhaus on Klosterberg, the monastery hill of the Waldbreitbach Franciscan Sisters. In summer, Klosterberg’s terraces and the herb and Bible garden also invite you to take a break or join a guided tour. Together, these attractions offer a reason to consider trails, gardens and spiritual interests alongside local history when planning your holiday.

If you are looking for a holiday apartment, you can choose Waldbreitbach based on which of these aspects of the town you want to shape your stay: nativity scenes and historic buildings, the oil mill, or trails through the countryside.

More town pages

Also explore the town pages for Neustadt, Rodenbach, Kleinmaischeid, Dernbach, Ratzert, Urbach, Roßbach and Richert.

For the full travel overview: Neuwied.