Nordhofen – Forest, Stream and Church History

Nordhofen lies in a hilly landscape with beech and spruce forests along the disused historic Unterwesterwaldbahn railway. The Kleine Saynbach flows through the southern part of the village; the Evangelical parish church, a protected cultural monument, stands on the main road. Nature and local history therefore offer different points of interest to help you plan a stay.

Landscape and Walks

The landscape offers opportunities for walking, cycling and discovering nature. The Kleine Saynbach is associated with leisurely walks. These activities can be distinguished as follows: the stream offers opportunities for peaceful walks, while the hilly woodland also lends itself to cycling and discovering nature. The disused railway line provides a historical point of reference in the landscape.

Church and Local History

The Evangelical parish church on the main road is a protected cultural monument. Its Romanesque west tower and nave stand alongside a chancel dating from around 1750 and a tent-shaped roof dating from around 1840. The building therefore cannot be attributed to a single period of construction: it combines Romanesque elements with later-dated features.

Nordhofen was first mentioned on 17 June 1259 in connection with its church. Later, the village served as a station on the former Unterwesterwaldbahn railway between Siershahn and Altenkirchen. The date associated with the church and the village’s former role on the railway point to different historical periods in Nordhofen’s history.

More to Explore in the Wider Westerwald Destination

The Stöffel Park, a former basalt quarry covering around 140 hectares, is located in the wider Westerwald destination and brings together industrial heritage, geological history and nature. The TERTIÄRUM at Stöffel Park displays fossils, including the famous “Stöffel Mouse.” The fossils document around 25 million years of geological history.

The long-distance hiking trails in the wider Westerwald destination offer routes and stages to compare: the WesterwaldSteig runs for 235 kilometres through the Westerwald and has 16 stages. The Druidensteig runs for 94 kilometres over seven day stages through seven river valleys and features more than 30 geo-information points. The route lengths and numbers of stages give an idea of the scale; the Druidensteig also features river valleys and geo-information points. Check the current WesterwaldSteig route planner before setting off.

In Hachenburg in the Westerwald, restored half-timbered houses around the Alter Markt define the historic town centre; the Löwenbrunnen fountain is also part of its historic atmosphere. The Hachenburger Erlebnis-Brauerei offers beer experience tours and brewing courses. You can arrange individual dates by phone; check the current booking arrangements in advance.

The Westerwald Ceramics Museum explores the history of working with clay. The objects on display mostly originated in a Westerwald clay pit. In the museum workshop, you can get creative yourself under expert guidance. Check current workshop dates and booking terms in advance.

Discover more destinations: Kundert, Dreisbach, Heiligenroth, Langenhahn, Seck, Niederelbert, Stockum-Püschen, Moschheim

Go to the overview of the wider destination: Westerwald.