Hochtaunus: Culture, Castles and Hiking Trails

Hessenpark: Open-Air Museum and Bicycle Services

The Hessenpark open-air museum is located in Neu-Anspach in the Hochtaunuskreis district. A family trail shows children and adults together how people used to live and work. It offers a distinct way to explore the museum’s themes: the shared walk focuses on everyday life and work in times past.

There are also specific facilities on site for arriving by bicycle. Six charging stations for e-bikes are available directly at the museum. At the bicycle service station, visitors can carry out minor repairs and maintenance themselves. Bus route 63 connects Wehrheim and Neu-Anspach/Anspach station with the Neu-Anspach/Anspach Hessenpark stop. Check the latest bus service information before travelling; visitor service details may change.

Kronberg Castle: History and Guided Tours of the Interior

Kronberg Castle stands on a rocky spur on the southern slope of the Taunus. It was built as an imperial castle on Staufer crown lands, probably in the 12th century. Since 2008, the museum in the north wing of the Middle Castle has featured a permanent exhibition on the history of Kronberg Castle. The historic site and its past can therefore also be explored through an exhibition.

The museum and the castle’s interior can only be visited as part of a guided tour. Plan your visit around the tour times and check the latest information in advance. A prominent landmark is the Freiturm, which is just under 44 metres tall: from there, views extend across the surrounding countryside and, on a clear day, as far as the Spessart and Odenwald.

Hiking Trails: A Short Loop and Longer Routes

For a short, clearly defined loop, the Windeck health-climate hiking trail (WE2) is one option: this easy circular trail is 3.33 kilometres long and starts and ends at the Windeck car park in Königstein im Taunus. It runs mostly sheltered from wind and sun around the Großer Feldberg, the highest mountain in the Taunus. Check trail conditions and access before setting out.

The Weiltalweg follows a different route. It starts near the source of the Weil at the “Rotes Kreuz” car park near Schmitten, follows the Weil through Weilrod and runs for a total of 47.5 kilometres to Weilburg on the Lahn. Its length and route are therefore quite different from the short Windeck loop. Those interested in the Limes can choose another longer route, the Hochtaunus Limes Experience Trail: it follows the course of the Limes hiking trail or the Limes cycle path and runs for more than 30 kilometres from Glashütten to Ober-Mörlen. Check trail conditions before you set off.

The Hochtaunus Health Climate Park offers another way to orient yourself: it covers around 20 square kilometres in Schmitten im Taunus, Glashütten, Königstein im Taunus, Kronberg im Taunus and Oberursel (Taunus). The park includes 12 portals and just under 30 trails. These details describe a network of trails with several access points, not a single loop like the Windeck trail.

Saalburg and Opel Zoo: Guided Insights and Animal Encounters

At the Saalburg Roman fort, guided tours cover the interior of the fort, the outer civilian settlement and the Limes. The “extra muros” tour goes through the settlement and the outer grounds, including the fort bathhouse, inn, ramparts and Limes. If you want to focus on areas outside the fort, this description can help you choose a tour. Check the latest tour times before your visit.

At the Opel Zoo petting zoo, visitors may touch and stroke the domestic animals there and feed them with the food offered by the zoo. The zoo’s educational programme can be booked individually and provides information about animals, species conservation and nature conservation through qualified biologists and educators. It is suitable as a supplement to classroom learning or as a shared leisure activity; booking an appointment is required. Animal encounters are the focus at the petting zoo, while the educational programme focuses on learning.

Consider Your Type of Outing and Accommodation Together

The destinations listed differ in their themes, trail lengths and visitor experiences. Plan around these specific differences and check the latest conditions for guided tours, bus connections and trails.

Discover more destinations: Usingen, Neu-Anspach, Kronberg, Bad Homburg Vor Der Höhe, Weilrod, Königstein Im Taunus, Glashütten, Oberursel, Schmitten.

See the regional travel overview: Hesse.