Mittenaar: Hiking, Nature and Local History

Hiking trails and protected landscapes

Numerous signposted hiking trails lead through the low mountain landscape and its ridges. The Hörre adds its own natural highlight: the nature reserve has a high proportion of beech trees. When choosing a hike, both the network of trails and this distinctive landscape are worth considering. The trails help anyone who wants to explore Mittenaar on foot find their way, while the Hörre draws attention to its beech trees and protected landscape.

One challenging route is the Mittenaar 2010 Permanent Hiking Trail. It starts in Bicken, loops around the municipality of Mittenaar and is about 30 kilometres long, with around 2,000 metres of elevation gain. These details can help anyone looking for a demanding, extensive hike. The “50 Years of Mittenaar Jubilee Trail” circular route is well marked and passes through the districts of all the villages. This route is notable for its marked trail and its path through the villages, while the Permanent Hiking Trail is described in terms of its length, elevation gain and difficulty.

The Dernbachwiesen Extratour also brings together a variety of landscapes: it passes through woods and fields and offers views across numerous valleys. Archaeologically significant sites, dating back more than 4,000 years, lie close to the Rennweg along the route. At 445 metres, Alte Burg is the highest point on the Dernbachwiesen Extratour. The route thus combines natural experiences with a connection to the distant past.

The Bickener Ritterspuren Extratour traces the roughly 600-year history of the Lords of Bicken. The Bicken shelter, which serves as a refreshment stop in the Lahn-Dill-Bergland hiking park, is another useful landmark. Mittenaar’s hiking options therefore include the routes described above, a historic trail and a designated refreshment stop.

Local museums and history

The Bicken Local History Museum can be visited by prior arrangement. It displays household furnishings and everyday objects from agriculture and crafts dating from the beginning of the 20th century. The collection also includes a working forge and more than 2,000 photographs of Bicken from the late 19th century. Everyday life, work and historical views of the village are presented side by side. Anyone interested in crafts will find a particular focus in the forge, while the photographs offer a distinct view of Bicken in an earlier era.

The Offenbach Local History Museum has a different focus. It includes a historic schoolroom, an old herb shop and a rock collection, as well as exhibits on the history of mining. Its themes range from schooling and trade to rocks and mining history. Together with the museum in Bicken, the two collections offer different perspectives on the area’s everyday and working history.

Ballersbach Church also preserves a historic record: it contains wall paintings dating from around 1500. The church complements the museum collections with a place where history can be experienced through murals. Visitors planning a stay in Mittenaar can therefore choose between hiking trails, protected landscapes and a variety of cultural and historical highlights.

Discover more destinations: Haiger, Lahnau, Siegbach, Breitscheid, Leun, Herborn, Dillenburg, Dietzhölztal.

Return to the main travel overview: Lahn-Dill District.