The best family-friendly hikes and walks around Bad Honnef

Rhöndorf is a district of Bad Honnef in the Rhein-Sieg district of North Rhine-Westphalia and lies at the foot of the Siebengebirge hills. Beautiful and well-maintained half-timbered houses, showcasing loving attention to detail in their many decorations. Just a short walk from the train station, you're already in the heart of Rhöndorf. Hiking opportunities abound, for example, to the Großer Ölberg (Mount of Olives) or the Löwenburg ruins. Notable figures: Konrad Adenauer, the first Chancellor of Germany, came from Rhöndorf. Winegrowing: Rhöndorf is one of the northernmost wine-growing villages on the Rhine with a long tradition of viticulture.

Franz Schultz was, alongside Oberberghauptmann Heinrich von Dechen, one of the great promoters of the Siebengebirge. The preservation of the Löwenburg ruin, in particular, is thanks to him. The bronze relief on a viewing terrace on the circular path around the Löwenburg commemorates Franz Schultz. A stone is set into the front wall of the terrace with a metal relief showing Schultz's head in profile. Below it, in raised letters, it reads SCHULTZ * 1831 † 1926. The inscription on a bronze plaque attached below reads: Franz Schultz - born 15.2.1831 Zerbst/Anhalt - died 4.3.1926 Cologne - Dedicated preserver of the Löwenburg ruin. Schultz was born on February 15, 1831, the only child of Ludwig Ferdinand and Wilhelmine Schultz, on the princely domain of Zerbst (Saxony/Anhalt), where his father was a tenant farmer. In addition to his schooling with a private tutor, he already worked in a locksmith's shop and then studied mechanical engineering in Berlin. As an engineer, he worked for several years at the Berlin-Hamburger Eisenbahn before moving to Cologne in 1856, where he led, among other things, the construction of the iron roof structure of Cologne Cathedral. At the time, this was a sensation because only wooden structures were known until then. In 1863, Schultz joined the "Charlier & Van der Zypen" wagon factory, of which he became a partner. In 1896, he sold his shares and, as a wealthy privateer, undertook numerous world travels. The company was absorbed in 1959 by the Cologne-based engine, commercial vehicle, and locomotive manufacturer Klöckner-Humboldt-Deutz AG (see Wikipedia article via link 3). In 1898, Schultz founded a committee with friends of Bismarck that promoted the construction of the Bismarck Tower, which, inaugurated in 1903, still stands today at the mouth of the Cologne Bayenthalgürtel into Rheinuferstraße. Franz Schultz died on March 4, 1926, at the age of 96, in his house in Cologne, which later fell victim to bombs. Until his death, his love was dedicated to the preservation of nature in his home region of Siebengebirge near Bonn, where a square was named in his honor. Source text: Zerbster Heimatkalender 1999

The ancient agricultural culture of the meadow orchard seemed to have been forgotten, but at some point it was brought out of the proverbial "sinking" and experienced a comeback. This is also the case here on the slopes of the Siebengebirge, in the immediate vicinity of the "Löwenburger Hof".

Idyllically located bench at the Möschbach.

Beautiful view from the Löwenburg

The route to Löwenburg is a steady climb through dense beech forest. Once you reach the top, you will be treated to spectacular panoramic views of the Rhine Valley, as far as the Eifel, across the Ennert to Bonn and into the Westerwald.

The exposed roots of the trees are very impressive.

Steep climb, especially when it is raining or has rained, it is a very muddy affair. At the moment there are also trees lying across the path that have to be overcome.