Fellerdilln combines a charcoal-burning tradition that continues to shape the village with a long history of iron ore mining. This gives the village two distinct historical perspectives: a working tradition that still has a clear influence on the course of the year, and traces of earlier ironworking. In the wider destination of Haiger, there are also hiking and cultural activities that you can include in your travel plans according to your interests.
Charcoal Burning and Iron Ore Mining in Fellerdilln
In Fellerdilln, the Hauberg is not just a thing of the past. The tradition is still actively practised and strongly shapes the course of the village year. Today, the wood is used mainly as firewood. This means that the use of the Hauberg is part of both the village’s present-day character and its history. Anyone wanting to understand Fellerdilln will find here a tangible connection to local land use, not merely a historical name.
Ironworking represents another historical era: Fellerdilln’s history includes an ironworks that operated from 1609 to 1613, as well as the long-established local tradition of iron ore mining. The ironworks’ operating period provides a clear historical reference point; the mining tradition stands alongside it as a longer-established part of the village’s history. The Hauberg and iron shape the picture in different ways: on the one hand, continuing management of the woodland; on the other, the memory of mining and ironworking.
Hiking in the Wider Destination of Haiger
The wider destination of Haiger offers a range of hiking trails covering different distances. The Rothaarsteig premium hiking trail passes around Haiger and runs for a total of 154 kilometres from Brilon in the Sauerland to Dillenburg. From Haiger, you can also hike west along the Westerwaldsteig to the Rhine. Hiking options in Haiger also include the Lahn-Dill-Bergland main trail and 19 circular trails.
One circular route with a specified distance is the Haigerseelbach Circular Hiking Trail: it is 10.6 kilometres long and passes nine highlights. Along the way, the trail offers views across the Dill Valley, the Kalteiche, Haigerseelbach and Allendorf. This means that the wider destination of Haiger offers both long-distance trails and a circular walk with a stated distance and named viewpoints. The Westerwald Association Haiger marks and maintains the Hiking Trails.
There is also a clearly specified route for cycling plans: the 1,114-metre-long Balkan Tunnel is a cycle-path tunnel between Langenaubach and Breitscheid. For nature conservation reasons, it is open only from 15 April to October. As the responsible authority may adjust this seasonal arrangement, check the opening period before your visit.
Culture and Geology in Haiger
For a self-guided tour of Haiger’s historic old town, there is the Digital City Tour. Visitors can explore at their own pace using a digital map and descriptions of the stops. If you prefer a guided tour, Haiger offers city tours lasting around 75 to 90 minutes; the meeting point is the market square fountain. Special attention is also given to the Protestant Town Church and its noteworthy wall paintings.
The Geological Walk in Haiger provides information at numerous stops about local and global geological events across 393 million years of Earth’s history. Families can access child-friendly information via a QR code. This means the walk combines geological topics with a dedicated way of sharing information with younger visitors.
In Haigerseelbach, a district of Haiger, the Lace and Linen Museum is devoted to textile crafts. It illustrates the process from the flax plant to the finished linen fabric; its exhibits include a working loom. The museum also displays an extensive collection of antique lace and presents techniques such as bobbin lace making, crocheting and the Occhi technique native to the region. In this way, cultural activities in the wider destination of Haiger complement the history of Fellerdilln with further topics—from the old town and geology to linen and lace.
For the wider travel overview: Haiger.
