Four hiking tours start and end in Waldesch, with routes ranging from approximately 9 to 22 kilometers. The town also has local festival traditions tied to different times: the annual St. Martin’s procession, the fair over the Whitsun holidays, and the Rose Festival, held approximately every two years. This gives you two different focuses to choose from when planning: an event tied to the calendar or a hike whose length and difficulty suit your trip.
Festivals in Waldesch
The St. Martin’s procession takes place every year and draws large numbers of local residents. After a service of the Word in St. Antonius Parish Church, St. Martin, accompanied by the “Wald-Echo” Waldesch e.V. music association, processes through several streets in town. The annual date and procession route may vary, so check local information for the relevant year before your trip.
The Waldesch fair takes place over the Whitsun holidays. Whit Monday includes a traditional morning gathering in the Bürgerhaus hall. The day begins with a festive church service, in which the men’s choir takes part. At the morning gathering, the “Wald-Echo” Waldesch e.V. music association and the men’s choir, among others, provide musical entertainment. As the program may change, it is advisable to check local information before your trip.
The Rose Festival takes place in the area around the Bürgerhaus approximately every two years. Exact dates and the program vary. If attending the festival is important when choosing your travel dates, therefore, use the information for the specific event rather than relying solely on its approximate schedule.
Hiking: four tours with varying difficulty ratings
Among the shorter routes, the Remstecken Tour is approximately 9 kilometers long and rated easy to moderate. The Kühkopf Tour, at approximately 15 kilometers, is rated moderate. You can hike either tour in full or in sections. These two routes therefore offer different distances and the option to hike only part of a tour.
The Rhein-Mosel-Höhen Tour is approximately 22 kilometers long and rated moderate to difficult. The Moseltal Tour covers approximately 21 kilometers and is considered difficult. Although their approximate lengths are similar, their difficulty ratings differ: when choosing, consider both, not just the number of kilometers. All four tours start and end in Waldesch. Check current trail conditions before setting out.
More to explore in the wider Mayen-Koblenz destination
Beyond Waldesch’s festivals and hiking routes, the wider Mayen-Koblenz destination offers other cultural, industrial, and nature attractions. Sayn Abbey was founded around 1200; its abbey church was consecrated in 1202. The exterior paintings dating from around 1255 are considered the best-preserved examples of their kind from the High Middle Ages in Germany. Sayn Foundry is an anchor point on the European Route of Industrial Heritage and the only monument in Rhineland-Palatinate to receive this distinction. Following restoration, its modern exhibitions and multimedia presentations invite visitors to explore; guided tours and creative workshops are also available.
Genovevaburg Castle in Mayen offers another historical highlight: it was built in 1280 by Heinrich von Finstingen, Archbishop of Trier, and is one of Mayen’s landmarks. For more museum visits, the Lava Dome in Mendig is the German Volcano Museum. The Geyser Museum explains how the world’s tallest cold-water geyser works in five exhibition areas.
Sayn Palace Park features a pond with a water fountain, winding paths, benches, and quiet spots. The park was designed as an English landscape garden from 1840 to 1850 at the request of Prince Ludwig Adolf Friedrich zu Sayn-Wittgenstein-Sayn; the architect was Carl Friedrich Thelemann. Visitors looking for a cycling route in the wider Mayen-Koblenz destination can also explore the 33-kilometer Vulkanpark Cycle Route: it runs from Mayen through Mendig, Kretz, and Plaidt to Andernach, connecting numerous attractions in the Volcano Park along a relaxed, family-friendly route.
Discover more destinations: Volkesfeld, Ettringen, Alken, Nachtsheim, Herresbach, Kobern-Gondorf, Hatzenport, Pillig
View the wider travel overview: Mayen-Koblenz.
