Taunus Mountain Range

The Taunus belongs as part of the Rhenish Slate Mountains to the older mountains of Germany. The low mountain range is bordered by the Upper Middle Rhine Valley in the west, the Lahn Valley with the Limburg Basin in the north, the Giessen Basin and the Wetterau in the east, and the Rheingau and Main-Taunus foothills in the south.

The Taunus itself is in turn divided into different parts of the landscape. The southern part of the mountain range is described as Anterior Taunus and High Taunus and is characterized by higher parts as well as strong forestation. North of it is the Hintertaunus, a less mountainous landscape with deep valleys and distinct plateaus. This area is also used more agriculturally. The Idstein Dip divides the northern area again into western and eastern Hintertaunus.

The Taunus has been settled for many centuries. Legacies of the former people still bear witness to their lives today. The Upper German-Raetian Limes stretched over the Taunus main ridge from the 1st to the 3rd century. The partly still visible border wall has been a UNESCO world heritage site since 2005. Along the Limes there were several forts, of which the Saalburg fort near Bad Homburg can still be visited today. On the Limes hiking trail you can follow the historical traces especially well.

In the Middle Ages, numerous castles and palaces were added to the landscape of the Taunus Mountains. Some of the most beautiful and best-preserved buildings can be found in the region. The "Hessian fairy tale castle" Braunfels, the castle ruins Freienfels near Weinbach with its annual knights' games and the former residential castles in Bad Homburg and Weilburg are only a few of the rich medieval building landscape.

The Taunus can be explored in different ways. The low mountain range is particularly popular with excursionists from the Rhine-Main region for hikes, bike tours, great views or just a nose full of fresh air. On the extensive network of hiking trails, you can discover not only nature worth seeing, but also cultural monuments along the way. Cyclists are sporty on the move in the High Taunus Mountains – the valleys of Weil, Aar, Ems- and Wörsbach as well as the Anterior Taunus are ideal for leisurely routes. Mountain bikers will be delighted with the bike park at the Großer Feldberg, which offers two challenging routes. One highlight is certainly the Hochtaunusstraße, a 55 km long vacation road. Here on the way you can explore the deep forests, prominent peaks, wide valleys, beautiful places and long gone cultures in a relaxed way.