Friedrich Bruchlos Memorial – Kurtscheid Observation Tower loop from Rhine-Westerwald (Nature Park)

Hiking trails & Routes

Friedrich Bruchlos Memorial – Kurtscheid Observation Tower loop from Rhine-Westerwald (Nature Park)

Moderate

4.6

(62)

176

hikers

Friedrich Bruchlos Memorial – Kurtscheid Observation Tower loop from Rhine-Westerwald (Nature Park)

03:40

12.7km

290m

Hiking

Moderate hike. Good fitness required. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels. The starting point of the route is right next to a parking lot.

Last updated: August 18, 2026

Tips

Your route passes through a protected area

Please check local regulations for:

Naturpark Rhein-Westerwald

Waypoints

Start point

Parking

Get Directions

3.06 km

Friedrich Bruchlos Memorial

Highlight • Monument

A sad but also very interesting piece of history can be discovered here. Unfortunately, his family name did not spare the crashed pilot Friedrich Bruchlos a crash landing.

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3.43 km

Cave tunnel in Naturpark Rhein-Westerwald

Highlight • Cave

You should take off your rucksack before crawling through, otherwise you will rub against the very low tunnel ceiling with it.

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6.15 km

Ilsenstein Viewpoint

Highlight • Viewpoint

Nicely situated bench with a view of the Fockenbachtal and the Westerwald heights.

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6.99 km

Wilhelmsruh Shelter

Highlight • Mountain Hut

The hut does not have a special view, but dry seating and a roof over our heads, which we were very grateful for in January when it rained heavily

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8.29 km

Kurtscheid Water Tower and Viewpoint

Highlight • Viewpoint

The old water tower was provided with a viewing platform and is currently open even under pandemic conditions. From above, those with a head for heights have a great view over the Westerwald.

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8.31 km

Kurtscheid Observation Tower

Highlight • Viewpoint

Climb a few steps and enjoy the best panoramic view over the northern Westerwald and the Siebengebirge. A detour to the Kurtscheid observation tower is definitely worth it! Open around the clock.

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10.7 km

View of Neuerburg Castle (Wied) near Niederbreitbach

Highlight • Viewpoint

If you come from Kurtscheid on the Klosterweg, you have the first unobstructed view of the Neuerburg, even if you can hardly see more than the keep.

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11.2 km

Ruins of Neuerburg Castle (Niederbreitbach)

Highlight • Castle

Unfortunately privately owned, so not to visit.

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12.7 km

End point

Parking

Way Types & Surfaces

Way Types

6.48 km

3.48 km

1.58 km

1.04 km

168 m

Surfaces

5.34 km

3.12 km

2.27 km

1.56 km

409 m

< 100 m

Elevation

Nothing selected – click and drag below to see the stats for a specific part of the route.

Weather

Friday 16 October

14°C

6°C

83 %

Additional weather tips

Max wind speed: 21.0 km/h

to get more detailed weather forecasts along your route

Comments

January 9, 2022,Auf dem alten K2 zur Ruine Neuerburg und durch das Fockenbachtal

I essentially copied the tour from AlexaE. The route includes some beautiful viewpoints and the wonderful Fockenbachtal. In my opinion, one of the main attractions is the ruins of the Neuerburg, even if you can only look at them from the outside and no access to the inside is possible. In summer, the streams offer the opportunity to at least …

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November 13, 2022,Wasserturmrunde Kurtscheid

The family "Cologne job" done and given the great weather forecast for Sunday...
again quickly to the Wied to Niederbreitbach.

On our recent tour to Niederbieber komoot.de/tour/970804549
we have already come via Kurtscheid with its lookout tower on the water tower and were so impressed that we wanted to dedicate another round to this tower and its views,

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April 10, 2022,alter K2 Weg Ruine Neuerburg-Fockenbachtal

Very nice tour from the highest place Kurtscheid in the district of Neuwied. At the beginning with April weather 🌧❄🌬, then only ☀️On beautiful paths to the Neuerburg and deep down into the Fockenbachtal. ..ok it's on asphalt, but the valley is still great.. short, steep ascent up to the Ilsenstein and back to Kurtscheid.. from the lookout tower still …

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August 9, 2023,Fockenbachtal Fockenbachtal 2

Yes, today again with a hiking group in the Wiedtal with breaks for a good 5 hours at what feels like 16 km and almost 500 meters in altitude. Highly recommended country inn Paganetti as a final stop or accommodation. Bb.Heinz,d.P.

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November 6, 2021,auf dem alten K2 zur Ruine Neuerburg und durch das Fockenbachtal

A very nice tour with crisp climbs - at least if you download the old K2. There are 2 versions. The old one is also drawn on the board at the cemetery, the new one on the water tower (see picture)
Unfortunately you don't get a lot of sun on the tour at this time of year, even though it …

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August 17, 2023,13 km Aufstieg auf dem K2 zur Burg Ruine Neuerburg im Fockenbachtal

Start, finish and parking:
Parking at the church, Hochstrasse, Kurtscheidt

That's a statement: "I climbed the K2 without oxygen" ... by the way, this is possible in Kurtscheid on the K2 circular hiking trail

Incidentally, Kurtscheid is the highest municipality in the district of Neuwied at 400 m above sea level and is located in the middle of the 446 …

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February 10, 2023,Fockenbachtal Fockenbachtal 2

My second tour in the beautiful Fockenbachtal.Well the weather was,,,
didn't quite fit. Will offer the tour to a hiking group (Wednesday hikers) in May. Just great. Also the inn Paganetti in Verscheid from where you start perfect.Bb.

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May 8, 2025,Durch das Fockenbachtal zur Neuerburg

Ludwig II of Thuringia had the Neuerburg built around 1170 (1160 to 1180). It is a kind of prototype of a Hohenstaufen castle.
The castle began to decay in the 17th century. Before 1850, the remaining buildings were finally demolished by the Princes of Wied, the then and current owners of the ruins.

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