If anyone ever asks, it’s quite all right to do nothing but bum around Hesse all day, every day. I mean, how else are you supposed to see everything — places like Mengerskirchen?
What’s really great out Mengerskirchen are all the nearby castles. Burg Mengerkirchen is now used as the town’s Rathaus (Town Hall), and Greifenstein Castle is really close by.
OK, so what if that technically is in the town of Greifenstein — but it’s only the next town over, so close enough. ;-)
Mengerskirchen lies claim to the Ruins Maienburg, though. Oh, it’s really pretty around here, mind you. The ruins lie around a densely wooded area, great for hiking, but the real highlight is the castle itself. Parts of its walls are still standing (not bad since the castle has been abandoned for four hundred years), and it’s an active archaeological site.
As with many towns throughout Germany, a good medieval town is most likely going to have a medieval church. Again, a technicality, because only the tower over in the village of Dillhausen’s 10th century church comes from the Middle Ages.
The beauty of the countryside here is equally as stunning as its architecture. The area is surrounded by basalt hills, including a basalt quarry. And the village of Waldernbach (which borders the Rhineland-Palatinate, BTW) lies along the Westerwald — an excellent place to hike the day away.
You’ll probably want to stick around Waldernbach for just a while longer. In addition to all those hiking areas, there are chapel ruins, a fishing pond, and even a War Memorial. Come the first weekend of September, Waldernbuch holds its annual village Fair.
On the off chance you’d have any energy after that, you could always head out to Winkels, where even more hiking and biking trails await; and it doesn’t end there. Mengerskirchen has camping sites along the Seeweiher, and the 18th century Backhaus (Bake House), and then you’ve got the St. Michael Church in Probbach.
Drats, I know I’m missing something. Oh, yes, the cross-country ski trails — perfect for winter fun.
As you can see, Mengerskirchen has something for just about everyone in any season — wouldn’t it be nice to stay here forever?
