Walking trails, a pond area and a history of construction and monastic life give Seck several distinct starting points for a stay. Route R 29 runs through the Holzbach Gorge; VR13 connects several named places on a circular route. Together with the paths around Secker Pond, these make it possible to plan a stay around landscapes, hiking and history.
Hiking in the Holzbach Gorge
The Holzbach Gorge is a narrow valley about one kilometre long, with basalt walls 20 to 30 metres high. R 29 is a circular hike through the Holzbach Gorge nature reserve and is approximately three kilometres long. These two measurements describe different things: the length of the valley and the length of the hike. The starting point for R 29 is the car park at the Hof-Café at Dappricher Hof in Seck.
The history of protection for the Holzbach gorge dates back further: the area was declared a protected area in 1929 and designated a nature reserve in 1961. If you would like to combine your hike with a stop for refreshments, the farmhouse café at the Holzbach Gorge serves homemade cakes and tarts. Check before travelling to see whether it is currently open.
Secker Pond: trails and different routes
The Secker Pond recreation area includes a large pond covering ten hectares and a smaller one covering four hectares. The area has designated walking paths. Fishing is possible at the smaller pond; a campsite with a restaurant, meadow and children's playground is located at the larger one. The two ponds therefore offer different options: walking paths, fishing and the facilities at the campsite.
The VR13 circular hiking route passes the Seligenstatt monastery ruins, Secker Pond, Dapprich estate and Seck. It is considered well marked; a hiking map or the free Rheinland-Pfalz erleben app is recommended for navigation. To reach the VR13, travel from Hellenhahn-Schellenberg via the B255 and K51; parking is available shortly before Seck. As route and access details may change temporarily, check them before setting out.
Other routes also take in the ponds: the WesterwaldSteig section from Rennerod to Westerburg passes right by them. Check the official route planner for temporary diversions before your hike. On the 5-Seen-Radweg, Secker Pond is the second lake. When choosing a route, you can use the tour itself as your guide: the VR13 connects several named places on a circular route, while the WesterwaldSteig section includes the ponds in its stage.
Church, monastery ruins and the history of the ponds
The construction history of St. Kilian's Church spans several phases. After a major fire, it was rebuilt in the Neo-Romanesque style from 1878 to 1880. A late-Romanesque baptismal font from the 13th century has been preserved. In 1963, the church was extended with a large rectangular hall.
Seligenstatt Monastery was first mentioned in 1181 and founded by Laach Abbey. A memorial stone and remnants of walls mark the monastery ruins. A former hunting lodge stood near the ruins, where officials were accommodated during the annual fish harvests. The pond complex also has a long history: Prince Moritz Heinrich of Nassau-Hadamar had the ponds created in 1672.
The trails and historic sites offer different highlights, and they do not all need to be combined into the same circular route. For a short hike whose approximate length is specified, R 29 through the Holzbach Gorge is a useful standalone planning option. The VR13, by contrast, focuses on linking the monastery ruins, pond, Dapprich estate and Seck. Those wishing to explore the area's history will also find points of interest at St. Kilian, Seligenstatt and the pond complex.
Discover more destinations: Luckenbach, Wahlrod, Ebernhahn, Alpenrod, Atzelgift, Brandscheid, Selters, Stahlhofen Am Wiesensee
For the main travel guide: Westerwald.
