Goldhausen lies on the western slope of the 562-metre-high Eisenberg. Hiking, mining history and geological themes shape the discoveries around the village. Eisenberg Castle ruins stand on the mountain’s high ground at around 560 metres above sea level and are surrounded by a rampart and moat. Together with the Georg-Viktor Tower, they are a prominent landmark along the Eisenberg Gold Trail and offer views of the region’s geological history.

Explore Eisenberg and the Gold Trail on foot

The first section of the Eisenberg Gold Trail passes through Goldhausen, around the castle ruins and the Georg-Viktor Tower, and up to the summit of Eisenberg, with eleven information stations and outdoor Station 12 along the way. It is about 3.3 kilometres long. The estimated walking time for the Eisenberg Gold Trail is approximately two to three hours. The route also includes steep forest sections, so sturdy footwear is required. The route length, approximate walking time and necessary equipment are important factors to consider when planning your day.

One of the Gold Trail’s stations is the St. Georg mine. Beneath a wooden roof is the entrance to a 56-metre-deep, almost vertical tunnel that follows a particularly rich gold vein. The GeoPfad Korbach offers a different scale of route: this circular trail, around 20 kilometres long, connects the Korbach Fissure with Eisenberg near Goldhausen.

Mining and geology on site

Gold panning has also been offered at the Zechenhaus since 2011. Opened in 2018, the museum room at the Zechenhaus shows how gold formed and explores the history of mining. A guided tour of the visitor mine in the former Goldhausen mining settlement offers an underground mining experience. Access to the visitor mine is partially accessible; you can reach the mine entrance only on foot via gravelled, relatively steep forest paths.

The landscape itself also tells the story of geological time. At the quarry, the collision of rock layers around 300 million years ago is clearly visible in the almost vertical slate layers. The Georg-Viktor Tower PANORAMA offers another perspective: the smartphone or tablet application illustrates how 250 million years of geological history are reflected in today’s landscape. The augmented reality experience is available from the viewing platform of the Georg-Viktor Tower between March and October. Check visitor information before your trip if you plan to take advantage of this seasonal offering.

Trails and navigation

The Green Trails Korbach on Eisenberg near Korbach-Goldhausen comprise ten kilometres of singletrack trails. The routes have been complete since summer 2023 and are linked into four loops of varying difficulty, offering fun for the whole family. Hiking the Gold Trail and mountain biking on the Green Trails provide different activity options during a stay in Goldhausen.

For local navigation, the Goldhausen hiking car park is on the edge of the village and can be reached via Turmweg. If you are looking for a hotel in Goldhausen, your planned activities can help guide your choice: hiking, mining history and geology offer a different focus from the Green Trails loops.

Explore Korbach too

In Korbach, the Wolfgang-Bonhage-MUSEUM KORBACH explores the fossils of the Korbach Fissure, the 1,000-year history of the medieval Hanseatic town, and evidence of historical gold mining on Eisenberg. This makes it possible to connect Goldhausen’s local highlights with further geological and historical themes in the Korbach destination.

Discover more destinations: Hillershausen, Lengefeld.

See the main travel overview: Korbach.