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recommended route Stage 11

Lahnwanderweg stage 09 upstream Rodheim-Bieber - Lollar

Select · 2 reviews · Hiking Trail · Lahntal · Open

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Lahntal Tourismus Verband e. V.

Rodheim-Bieber, Kirche
Photo: Jörg Thamer, © Lahntal Tourismus Verband e. V.

Fans of castles will quite like this part of the trail. Through the Wißmarbachtal you will get up into the forest, after which the route takes you to the stage’s final destination in Lollar.

Open

moderate

Distance 21.4 km

6:45 h

368 m

403 m

324 m

163 m

We will start at the church in Rodheim-Bieber. Right at the beginning of this stage, people who could imagine themselves as ladies and lords of the castle will enjoy the detour to the castle ruins of Vetzberg and Gleiberg. According to an old legend, there is a secret passage between the two castles - but it is not marked with the Lahnwanderweg trail sign! Make sure to climb the towers of the castles Vetzberg and Gleiberg since both of them offer breathtaking panoramic views. Afterwards you will hike through the idyllic Wißmarbachtal before walking up into the forest. There, we will leave the Lahnwanderweg trail and stroll down to the stage finish in Lollar.

Alternative starting point in Gießen:

For a duration of 6.9 km, the access path from Gießen to the Lahnwanderweg trail leads across the Lahnauen to the turnoff in Krofdorf-Gleiberg. From there, the Lahnwanderweg trail runs to the tour’s destination in Lollar for 15.6 km.

*** Current note: Due to renovation works the tower of the castle ruin Vetzberg is not climbable at the moment! ***

Author’s recommendation

Both castles offer refreshment stops.

The Gail'sche Park in Rodheim-Bieber is also worth a visit.

Author

Jörg Thamer

Update: April 20, 2023

Quality route according to "Wanderbares Deutschland"

Difficulty

moderate

Technique

Stamina

Experience

Landscape

Highest point

324 m

Lowest point

163 m

Best time of year

Jan

Feb

Mar

Apr

May

Jun

Jul

Aug

Sep

Oct

Nov

Dec

Track types

Asphalt

0.8 km

Dirt road

8.8 km

Forested/wild trail

9.9 km

Path

0.3 km

Road

1.7 km

Unknown

0 km

Show elevation profile

Rest stops

Burg Gleiberg

Safety information

For information on diversions and relocations, please see our "Current Information".

Information on restrictions in the rail network can be found here.

Tips and hints

Lahnwanderweg

Lahnwanderweg Facebook

Lahnwanderweg Instagram

Collecting memories with the hiking pass

The free pocket guide "Lahnwanderweg" and further information are available at www.daslahntal.de and from

Lahntal Tourismus Verband e. V.

Brückenstraße 2, 35576 Wetzlar

Tel. 06441-30998-0

www.daslahntal.de

info@daslahntal.de

Landkreis Gießen - Stabsstelle Wirtschaftsförderung/Tourismus

Riversplatz 1-19, 35394 Gießen

Tel. 02752/8 98

www.giessener-land.de

Start

Center of Rodheim-Bieber (192 m)

Coordinates:

50.618016, 8.598195

DMS

50°37'04.9"N 8°35'53.5"E

UTM

32U 471574 5607425

w3w

///remembrance.pretend.plots

Destination

Center of Lollar

Turn-by-turn directions

Starting from the center of Rodheim-Bieber), you need to stay on the Lahnwanderweg trail markings past the church of Rodheim-Bieber. Continue across the fields. At "Alter Garten", we will cross the former border between Hessen-Darmstadt and Preußen. This is also where the imposing mountaintop with the ruins of Vetzberg castle is situated. Making a detour to the castle is highly recommended since the lookout tower offers a wonderful view of the rest of the route. Through the wide valley you will reach Krofdorf-Gleiberg where you can start climbing up to the castle ruins.

The castle consists of the upper castle and the lower castle (refreshment stop) where many of the old details have been restored. Being on the main tower (keep) of the upper castle, which is approximately 30 m high, you can enjoy a beautiful view over the Gießen basin along the river Lahn to the Vogelsberg, the Westerwald and the Taunus. The Vetzberg castle that you have just been on can be seen again as well. Over fields and through the forest, the trail will guide you to Launsbach where another beautiful viewpoint with an information board is waiting.

The next highlight is the wild and romantic nature reserve Wißmarbachtal that is home to numerous rare plants. Through a reforestation area we will walk up into the mixed forest where the hiking trail is being left. Following the yellow Lahnwanderweg trail signs, you will walk to the stage destination in Lollar on comfortable ways. The small town offers historic houses and monuments such as the industrial castle "Villa Buderus" that was built in 1880. There are plenty of places to stay overnight and stop for refreshments.

Public transport

Public-transport-friendly

By train to Lollar or to the alternative starting point in Gießen.

To Rodheim-Bieber by bus from Gießen

www.bahn.com

By road

To Rodheim-Bieber via A480, L3047 and L3286

To Lollar via B3

Parking

Parking spaces are available in both townships where stages start or end

Coordinates

50.618016, 8.598195

DMS

50°37'04.9"N 8°35'53.5"E

UTM

32U 471574 5607425

w3w

///remembrance.pretend.plots

Arrival by train, car, foot or bike

Book recommendation by the author

- Pocketguide "Lahnwanderweg" (free) at www.daslahntal.de or order at Lahntal Tourismus Verband (see "details")

- Hikeline Lahnwanderweg, 14,90 €, 1. Auflage 2014 ISBN: 978-3-85000-535-7

- Rother Wanderführer Lahnwanderweg, 14,90 €, 1. Auflage 2016 ISBN: 978-3-7633-4492-5

Author’s map recommendations

- Rheinland-Pfalz-App free download

- Münzer, Rad- und Wanderkarte Lahntal Marburg bis Gießen, 1:25.000, 9,80 € 1. Auflage 9/2019 - ISBN: 978-3-9817589-3-1

Book recommendations for this region:

Equipment

Ordinary hiking equipment required. Take backpack vespers and drinks with you.

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Rating

3.5

(2)

Karsten Bike

March 21, 2022 · Community

Comment

Moritz Dr. Jäger

May 18, 2021 · Community

When did you do this route? May 01, 2021

Comment

Photos from others

Status

Open

Reviews

Difficulty

moderate

Distance

21.4 km

Duration

6:45 h

Ascent

368 m

Descent

403 m

Highest point

324 m

Lowest point

163 m

Public-transport-friendly Multi-stage route Scenic Refreshment stops available Cultural/historical interest Flora Linear route

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