Discover Sauerthal

Sauerthal brings together historic buildings, a long history of springs and hiking trails that pass through the village. St. Anna, the Sauerwasserbrunnen spring and Sauerburg Castle represent different historical periods; the trails vary in their routes and destinations.

Church, spring and Sauerburg Castle

The Catholic parish church of St. Anna was built in 1748. Its high altar retable dates from around 1670, making it older than the church building. Another historic landmark is the Sauerwasserbrunnen spring, which dates from the 12th century. Many local residents regard the Sauerbrunnen spring in the village centre as a source of health and strength. If you are planning to visit the spring, check locally beforehand for current visiting arrangements.

Sauerburg Castle rises above Sauerthal in a side valley of the Rhine, amid wooded ravines. It was built in 1355 and partially reconstructed between 1910 and 1912. Its moat is partly cut into the rock and partly made of masonry. The castle is privately owned; before visiting, check whether access is possible and under what conditions.

The cemetery in Sauerthal also preserves a specific historical landmark: the sandstone tomb of the last Count, Franz von Sickingen, is located there. The inscription reads, “He died in misery.” Check access to the cemetery locally before planning a visit.

Hiking trails with different routes

The 224-kilometre Rheinhöhenweg passes through Sauerthal. It is marked and signposted with a white “R”; check the current trail markings before setting out. One route takes the trail from the Waldeck ruins down through the Tiefenbach valley to Sauerthal. The European long-distance path and the Wisper hiking trail also pass through Sauerthal. The Rheinsteig can be reached from here via a connecting trail; check its route against the current signs before setting out.

The Lorch–Burg Nollig route climbs from Sauerthal towards Hof Sauerberg and offers a view of Sauerburg Castle. This gives you different points of reference to choose from: a trail that passes through Sauerthal, a connecting trail to the Rheinsteig, and a route with a climb and views of the castle. For the Lorch–Burg Nollig route, check trail conditions and the boundaries of private property before visiting.

Sauerthal is home to the local archery club’s shooting range. Check availability and visitor rules in advance.

The village name and historical traces

Sauerthal was first mentioned in writing in 1291 under the name “Surenburn”. The name Sauerthal refers to carbonated spring water that was found in the village. Slate mining is also part of the village’s history; it has been documented in Sauerthal since 1505. Together, the church, Sauerburg Castle and the tomb offer insights into different aspects of the village’s past: its name, water, mining and buildings.

The wider Rhein-Lahn area

As part of the wider Rhein-Lahn travel destination, the Rhein-Lahn district encompasses the area on the right bank of the Rhine at the mouth of the Lahn, the Lahn valley as far as just before Limburg near Diez, the southern foothills of the Westerwald leading towards the Lahn valley, and the northern uplands of the Taunus between the Rhine and the Aar.

More destinations

Discover more destinations: Kestert, Kamp-Bornhofen, Kaub, Braubach, Filsen, Osterspai, Sankt Goarshausen, Dörscheid.

Back to the main travel overview: Loreley.