Rodenbach can be explored along two different routes: on foot on the NR6 – Märkerwald Trail or by bike on Cycling Tour Tip 2. There are also traces of cultural history and a distinctive natural feature: the name Rodenbach appears in a deed of gift dated June 24, 773; in the Rodenbach forestry district, woodruff-beech forests cover a larger area.

Hiking the Märkerwald Trail

The NR6 – Märkerwald Trail is a 10.7 km circular hike of moderate difficulty. After the section through the Buchbach valley near Rodenbach, the route follows the Limes Hiking Trail northwest along the historic Roman frontier fortification, the Limes. The trail also descends into the Buchbach valley to a barbecue hut near Rodenbach. Both the shared stretch along the Limes and the descent into the valley serve as specific landmarks for the hike.

Cycling Tour Tip 2

Cycling Tour Tip 2 is a challenging 44.1 km circular cycling route. From the sports field in Rodenbach, the route meets the Limes Cycle Route and follows it to the Wied in Segendorf. Near Feldkirchen, it leaves the cycle route and climbs uphill on the K112 toward Rodenbach. At 44.1 km, the cycling loop is more than four times as long as the NR6; the comparison is between different activities: a challenging cycling loop and a hike of moderate difficulty.

Historic Traces and Traditions

The historical information about Rodenbach concerns different subjects. The name Rodenbach appears in a deed of gift dated June 24, 773. The former settlement of Auf dem Roth in the Buchbach valley is documented in records from 1209. Thus, a mention of the name and evidence of a former settlement stand alongside each other as two distinct points in time. The Burschenverein, founded in 1835, maintains another tradition through Rhenish May and Whitsun customs. These customs offer a different perspective on local history from the early written references.

Forests in the Rodenbach Forestry District

Woodruff-beech forests cover a larger area in the Rodenbach forestry district. For the natural history perspective, a notable feature is not only the type of forest, but also its distribution within the district: it occurs there across a larger area.

Culture in the Wider Destination of Neuwied

In the wider destination of Neuwied, the Roentgen Museum offers a distinctive cultural and historical highlight. It has a collection of Roentgen furniture and Kinzing clocks that is unique in the world. Abraham Roentgen (1711–1793) and his son David Roentgen (1743–1807), the most important furniture makers of the 18th century, supplied European princely courts from Paris to Saint Petersburg with their then state-of-the-art luxury furniture, known as “Neuwied furniture.” The collection and the history of the furniture offer a distinctive perspective on Neuwied’s cultural history.

Rommersdorf Abbey is also part of the wider destination of Neuwied. The former Premonstratensian abbey is now a venue for theater performances, concerts and readings, including in the English Garden, the cloister and the abbey church. It can be visited every year on Sundays from 1 p.m. to 6 p.m., from Easter until early November. Information on its history and art history, as well as tours led by knowledgeable Rommersdorf experts, is available free of charge. Check the seasonal visiting hours before your trip.

Discover more destinations: Asbach, Straßenhaus, Ratzert, Bad Hönningen, Kleinmaischeid, Neustadt, Rheinbreitbach, Döttesfeld

Back to the wider travel overview: Neuwied.