In Nomborn, hiking trails in the Eisenbach Valley meet the history of basalt quarrying at Bornkasten. For planning, choose from different trail lengths: a circular trail of about two kilometres at Bornkasten and a 9-kilometre, dog-friendly hiking route in the Eisenbach Valley. Wells and the historic bakehouse add to the picture of the village.
Hiking: Bornkasten or the Eisenbach Valley
The circular trail to and around the basalt peak of Bornkasten is about two kilometres long. Information boards cover basalt, flora, fauna and Celtic ancestors. The route thus combines geological and natural-history topics with a historical connection.
For a longer route, choose the dog-friendly Eisenbach Valley hiking route. It starts and ends at the StudentenmĂĽhle car park in Nomborn, is 9 km long and takes approximately 2.5 to 3 hours. The route follows natural and mostly paved paths, with little asphalt. Compared with the Bornkasten loop, it therefore offers a longer distance and an approximate time frame.
The premium Wällertour Eisenbach Valley hiking trail passes through Nomborn’s territory. Following the Eisenbach stream, it runs through meadows and past a meandering stretch of water; three streams accompany the hike. The route also features varied mixed forests and idyllic meadow valleys. Most paths are lightly paved. A small loop of the Wällertour also takes in Bornkasten. As trail conditions can change with the seasons, it is worth checking the current route before setting out.
Bornkasten: Basalt and nature
Basalt quarrying at Bornkasten began around 1922/23 and continued until about 1930; much of the extracted rock was made into paving stones. A short detour passes a geological outcrop with fan-shaped basalt columns and offers views across the Eisenbach Valley, Gelbach Valley and Montabaur Basin, as well as the surrounding villages. The basalt quarry also illustrates the region’s geological history. Its disused spoil heaps provide a habitat for rare plants and animals. Bornkasten is part of Nassau Nature Park and was named GeoTop of the Year in 2023 by the Westerwald-Lahn-Taunus National Geopark.
Historic bakehouse, wells and regional cuisine
A half-timbered historic bakehouse in the village centre has a working, wood-fired oven that is regularly used for baking bread. The local tradition of wells includes five new wells. The Kiliansbrunnen was built in 1989 to mark the village’s 700th anniversary. The restored Lambach pump works solely on water power and requires no electricity; it supplies four of the new wells. Nomborn thus brings together two different technical approaches: the historic water supply for the wells and regular bread baking in a wood-fired oven.
For food, the StudentenmĂĽhle is also worth considering: its restaurant serves country-style cooking with seasonal and regional specialities. As the menu may change, check what is currently on offer before visiting.
Getting there and finding your way
Nomborn is in the southern Westerwald recreational region. Road access is via the A3; the ICE railway stations in Montabaur and Limburg are the rail access points. Bus route 450 connects Nomborn with Montabaur ICE station. Check the current timetable before you travel.
For travel by bicycle, the Southern Westerwald cycle route passes through Nomborn and runs between Vallendar and Limburg an der Lahn. Check the current route and signage before setting out.
Discover more destinations: Neuhäusel, Kadenbach, Wahlrod, Luckenbach, Astert, Lautzenbrücken, Liebenscheid, Hillscheid.
See the main travel overview: Westerwald.
