Eimelrod combines a themed trail exploring local mining history with historic memorial sites and a variety of hiking options. The Gold Trail passes traces of mining, while the hiking routes include an easy circular walk and a trail through the Diemel valley. This makes it easy to tailor your stay to your interests in history, landscape or a seasonal activity.
The Gold Trail and Mining History
The Eimelrod Gold Trail is a 7.5 km themed route with eight stations. They provide information about the gold deposits around Eimelrod, how they formed over the course of geological history, and how they have been mined since the Middle Ages. Along the way, the route passes the disused “Heinrich-Stollen” mine, the Eimelrod forest nature trail, and other tunnels and mining pits. This brings both the geological origins and the history of mining into focus.
Church and Memorial Site
Eimelrod’s Romanesque church was first mentioned in a document in 1310. Its nave was completely rebuilt in 1827, and the present-day tower dates from 1928. The tower contains a tympanum relief from the previous church. The building’s different construction periods can thus be traced through specific parts of the structure.
The Jewish cemetery preserves historic gravestones and is a place of remembrance and reflection. As a memorial site, it commemorates the village’s Jewish community and its persecution during the Nazi era. The church and cemetery highlight different aspects of history: one tells the story of the building, while the other remembers the community and its persecution.
Hiking: Circular Walk or Diemel Valley
The Willingen-Eimelrod hiking trail (E1) is an easy 5.7 km circular walk around MĂĽhlenberg. It passes through the MĂĽlmeke valley and reaches open farmland after going under a railway. Its length, circular route and difficulty rating offer clear guidance when choosing a trail.
The Willingen-Eimelrod hiking trail (E3) runs through the Diemel valley alongside the River Diemel to the district of Hemmighausen, then returns to Eimelrod over a small hill. The E1 is described in terms of its circular route and length; the E3 is defined by its route through the valley, along the river and back over the small hill. If the landscape along the way is a factor in your choice, you can take these differences into account without treating the trails as a single route.
Eimelrod also has a forest nature trail, and guided walks exploring the village’s history are available. In winter, there is a cross-country ski trail and toboggan runs. Conditions for both seasonal activities depend on snow and operations. Check before travelling to see whether the ski trail or toboggan runs are open.
Getting to the Hiking Trails
The hiking trails in Eimelrod can be reached by bus or train from Willingen or Usseln station. For the onward journey to Eimelrod, take a bus or the Anrufsammeltaxi (AST) to the MĂĽhlenbach stop. Check timetables before you travel, as transport connections can change. This lets you include public transport in your plans before deciding which of the routes described to take.
Willingen (Upland) as a Wider Travel Destination
The wider travel destination of Willingen (Upland) offers a longer hiking route in the form of the Uplandsteig: this certified quality hiking trail is 66 km long, loops around the municipality and passes through all nine districts. Other attractions in this wider travel destination offer their own views. The Skywalk Willingen stretches for 665 m and is suspended 100 m above the Upland landscape. The Mühlenkopfschanze has a 25 m-high ski-jump tower with the “Adlerhorst” viewing point. The viewing platform at the Hochheideturm on Ettelsberg is 875 m above sea level; the tower is 62 m high and is considered the highest viewing point in northwestern Germany. An accessible elevator for eight people leads to the platform.
Discover more destinations: Rattlar, Neerdar, Welleringhausen, Schwalefeld, Bömighausen, Usseln.
Back to the main travel overview: Willingen.
