Attenhausen offers a clear choice between a circular hike starting in the town centre, longer trails and regional culture. The Taunus village lies on a hill, surrounded by the Dörsbach Valley, and within Nassau Nature Park. When planning, the main considerations are trail length, trail conditions and the distinction between activities starting in Attenhausen and destinations in the region.
Countryside and forest trails
The Waldliegestuhl (forest recliner) is intended for passing hikers and walkers. From this small facility, the view stretches across the Lahn Valley towards Nassau; depending on the vegetation, visibility may be limited. It is a separate stopping point along the way, not part of a circular hike described here.
FriedWald Nassauer Land – Attenhausen regularly offers guided forest tours with foresters. Check the local noticeboard before your visit, as the programme may change. Hiking, cycling and horse riding are also activities available from Attenhausen. When planning a route, take the conditions of the particular trails into account.
Choose hiking trails by distance
A moderately difficult circular hike, 7.36 kilometres long, starts in the town centre. It descends through fields and forest into the Dörsbach Valley and Jammertal, reaches the 19-Löcher-Klamm gorge and returns to Attenhausen. The start and finish in the village, as well as the route through open countryside, forest and gorge, are all part of the same loop.
The 19-kilometre Dörsbach-Mühlenwanderweg runs from Katzenelnbogen to Obernhof and connects with Attenhausen’s hiking trails. The 25-kilometre Vier-Täler-Tour runs through Nassau Nature Park. The three distances range from 7.36 to 19 to 25 kilometres: a circular walk in the village is thus complemented by two longer routes, each with its own course.
Before setting off on the longer routes, check trail conditions and possible diversions. The Vier-Täler-Tour partly follows narrow paths and requires sturdy footwear. Weather events can affect trail conditions, so take this into account when preparing.
Arnstein Abbey and the history of Attenhausen
Arnstein Abbey is a regional destination, not located in Attenhausen itself. It stands high above the Lahn and is a pilgrimage site. Romanesque and early Gothic elements shape its architecture. It adds a distinct destination to the story of the area without being conflated with the hiking trails in the village.
Attenhausen was among the endowed properties of Arnstein Abbey, which owned eight farms there. The village coat of arms also recalls this former connection: the mitre represents the village’s former affiliation with the abbey. Ears of grain refer to agriculture, formerly the village’s main source of income. The angle at the base of the shield symbolises Jammertal, while the blue wavy line represents the Dörsbach. Together, these emblems show how local history and landscape feature side by side in the village’s heraldic depiction.
Setting within the Rhein-Lahn travel destination
Within the broader Rhein-Lahn travel destination, Rhein-Lahn District includes the area on the right bank of the Rhine around the mouth of the Lahn and the Lahn Valley up to just before Limburg, near Diez. It also includes the southern foothills of the Westerwald towards the Lahn Valley and the northern Taunus plateau between the Rhine and the Aar. The Roman Limes also crosses the district; its visible remains are part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site of the Upper German-Raetian Limes. This regional context adds to the picture of Attenhausen without attributing these wider regional features to the village itself.
Discover more destinations: Bettendorf, Katzenelnbogen, Reichenberg, Bad Ems, Hahnstätten, Burgschwalbach, Bremberg, Loreley
Back to the main travel overview: Rhein-Lahn.
