A forest hike into the romanticism

About the tour

A search for traces in the middle of the Rhine Romanticism: the Niederwald as a literary place and as a unique natural scenery of a famous German epoch that captivated the whole of Europe in the 19th century. At that time, this forest above Rüdesheim was still called the Ostein. You will rave about its breathtaking views of the Middle Rhine Valley World Heritage Site for a long time to come. Immerse yourself in a forest and its fairytale nature, of which the romanticists longingly raved:

“…when we were on the Ostein, life was beautiful.”

Clemens Brentano

clip about the area of romanticism at the Niederwald

A whole forest just for pleasure? What a luxury. Ornamental forest, park forest, coppice forest; there are many names for this wonderful piece of nature, which is not surprising in view of this unusual mixture of rugged wildness and tamed nature. The walker is supposed to move into this forest like a painter. A large avenue that once led to the hunting lodge is the start of this romantic tour and at the same time the entrance to a forest whose species has become very rare in the meantime.

Lohwald or coppice forests are early forms of forest that provided firewood as early as the 16th century and where charcoal was produced. Count Ostein turned it into a kind of early amusement park for his noble guests – and on special days the common people were also allowed to feast.

The two Mainz historians Dr Franz Stephan Pelgen and Dr Melville researched the activities of the Count of Ostein, the park and its buildings in detail – learn on our guided tour what this romantic piece of nature is really about and what remains of it today.

Magic Cave, Rossel or Hermitage, these are the names of the stops on this tour into Romanticism, which were already intended by the Count of Ostein as places to linger. What was true for the Count’s guests is still true for today’s visitors: you are invited by the landscape, as it were.

And, of course, our guided tours provide valuable information about what else there was to see in this romantic piece of nature, which today is only a remnant. Count Ostein’s idea of a leisurely stroll and enjoyment of nature. You literally float above the World Heritage Site of the Middle Rhine Valley.

The free app Impuls Romantik already contains audio examples of writers such as Clemens Brentano or Johann Heinrich Jung-Stilling, whose descriptions can be used wonderfully as a prelude. Short information about historical backgrounds complement this multimedia offer for those who do not want to leave anything to chance.