Loreley Path "A View into the World Heritage"

“Loreley Paths” in the Loreley community of Bornich

Experience hiking, wine, and open spaces on the three designated circular hiking trails in the UNESCO World Heritage Upper Middle Rhine Valley.

“A View into the World Heritage,” from the heights of the Loreley village Bornich!

The Upper Middle Rhine Valley World Heritage Site is a natural and cultural landscape on the Middle Rhine, which was added to the UNESCO World Heritage list on June 27, 2002.

The starting point for this hike is the sports and community center on the outskirts of the Loreley community of Bornich. The route is suitable for inexperienced hikers due to its short length and only a few inclines.

The route leads us along the L 338 on a service road to the water reservoir. There we cross the L 338 and immediately have a mighty oak in our field of vision. The “Adolph’s Oak” was planted on August 22, 1864, by citizens of Bornich on the occasion of the 25th anniversary celebration of the enthronement of the local ruler Duke Adolph of Nassau and has colloquially always been called “des Aaschebamche” by the locals.

Past the “Aaschebamche,” we continue along the paved path for 200 m until it turns left onto an unpaved field path. Over meadow paths, you reach the forest edge, which you follow about 900 m west. The landscape then opens up, and the further route leads along extensive nutrient-poor meadows belonging to the Loreley nature reserve. In spring, you may occasionally encounter a shepherd whose sheep keep the areas open. At two prominent points, the “Balzenhöller Kopf” and “Am Gesetz,” benches invite you to pause and let your gaze wander “over the World Heritage.” From here, in front of the forested Hunsrück heights, you can also see the villages of Niederburg, Damscheid, and Dellhofen on the opposite Rhine side. Looking south, the neighboring village of Dörscheid can be seen on the other side of the deeply incised Urbachtal. Looking north, you can spot Katz and Maus castles in good visibility.

By then, the panoramic view of Taunus, Hunsrück, and the Middle Rhine Valley becomes a “View into the World Heritage.”

After “Am Gesetz,” the route continues through meadows and fields until it meets the paved “Hohle Weg.” We follow this path into the village and see the building of the Loreley wine cooperative. With some luck, you may arrive during opening hours and can try a delicious Middle Rhine wine awarded with several prizes, and indulge in a “little bottle” to conclude the route. It is only about 600 m back to the starting point via the winemaker’s path and behind the “Obergärten.”

If you choose the route through the village via Kauber Straße, you will pass the newly designed “Pfarrgarten.” The small park with its pavilion, benches, and tables is excellent for concluding the route. In the middle of this little green oasis, you can review the tour and enjoy a “little bottle of wine.”