The Fernthal outdoor fitness trail is next to the kindergarten. Five stations offer free outdoor exercise, with easy-to-follow instructions for mobility, coordination and strength. If you would rather hike a trail, the GeoRoute “In the Valley of the Old Mine” offers a different setting. There is also a geological route theme, a historic chapel and an annual pilgrimage. Fernthal thus offers a range of options for exercise, hiking and history.

Hiking and GeoRoutes

The GeoRoute “In the Valley of the Old Mine” is 17.6 kilometres long in total and can be hiked in three stages or all at once. Its first stage is 9.5 kilometres long and starts at the sandstone church in Fernthal. The 9.5 kilometres therefore refer to the first section, while 17.6 kilometres is the length of the entire route. There is also a marked connecting trail from Altenhütte back to Fernthal.

The GeoRoute “Basalt and Non-Ferrous Metals” has a different focus: it explains the volcanic forces that shaped the ridge as far as Fernthal. While “In the Valley of the Old Mine” describes stages and a marked connecting trail, “Basalt and Non-Ferrous Metals” focuses on how the landscape was formed. Those interested in geology will find a distinct topic here, alongside the specific hiking options on the other route.

Chapel and Pilgrimage

The Catholic branch chapel of the Assumption of Mary in Fernthal was built in 1911. It contains a Madonna dating from the 15th century. This places two different dates side by side: the year the chapel was built and the date of the Madonna.

Another tradition is the annual pilgrimage from Fernthal to the Chapel of Our Lady of Help in Koblenz-Lützel, which has taken place every year since 1830. It starts each year in May at 5:45 a.m. at the Chapel of St. Mary of the Assumption in Fernthal. The pilgrimage includes sections on foot and bus journeys. If you would like to include the pilgrimage in your travel plans, it is best to check the specific date in advance.

More Ways to Stay Active in Fernthal

The tennis hall in Fernthal is open to anyone interested in playing or training, and court times can be booked online. This provides another independent activity alongside the exercise stations and hiking options. You can use the online booking option to plan a tennis session.

In the wider destination of Neustadt (Wied)

The wider destination of Neustadt (Wied) is in the Vorderer Westerwald and the Rhine-Westerwald Nature Park. Its landscape is characterised by valleys, hills and wooded areas, and lies between 120 and 370 metres above sea level. Above the local municipality of Neustadt (Wied), a two-kilometre forest nature trail runs as a circular route. Interactive information or play stations focus on the local forest.

The Berschau nature recreation area is also part of the wider destination of Neustadt (Wied), on the banks of the Wied. It offers a biotope, hiking trails, playgrounds and barbecue huts. These landscape and leisure attractions belong to the context of Neustadt (Wied) and should be distinguished from the options described in Fernthal.

For the wider travel overview: Neustadt.