The best walks and hikes in Staatsforst Neunkirchen-Seelscheid

The Swiss writer Max FRISCH (1911-1991) also dedicated himself to hiking in his literary work. He writes: „Everything must be acquired, it seems, while hiking and also elsewhere. (…) This cannot be done without effort and time, and perhaps God precisely for this reason did not make our stride larger, so that we do not constantly pass by the world“. He describes the diversity of the landscape as follows: „one should first see the stones, he apparently thinks, and rejoice in the simple meadows, before meeting the first trees and finally these magnificent vineyards, these shining asters, which hang over the fence and call out a jubilant color to the hiker, as if they knew that he has come over many mountains and valleys, a greeting that rewards everything.“

The basalt crater "Blauer Stein" near Windeck-Kuchhausen (Rhein-Sieg-Kreis, North Rhine-Westphalia) is a fascinating, protected natural monument. The meter-high, angular, hexagonal basalt columns bear witness to the region's volcanic activity millions of years ago. Today, the former quarry is an idyllic and popular destination for hikers and nature enthusiasts.

The Blauer Stein Hütte (also known as Schutzhütte Blauer Stein) is a popular destination on the impressive basalt crater „Blauer Stein“ in the municipality of Windeck. The hut is located at an altitude of 347 meters directly above Windeck-Kuchhausen.

„Forests protect landscapes and secure natural resources“ is stated in the background paper for the 'German Forest Days', a realization not new to passionate hikers. The report continues by explaining: „Forest soils act like natural sponges: they store rainwater, filter it, and release it to groundwater and surface water. Regions with stable water balances are more resilient to drought periods and thus increasingly attractive locations...“

„Walking is quite beautiful,“ says Kurt Tucholsky (1890-1935) in his story „The Foot Tour,“ in which he describes a hike with two friends: „Sometimes we don't say anything at all – we've already told each other everything. We're just happy to be together. In places, one stops for a smoke, nobody listens. Sometimes… when men are among themselves and alone, it happens that one burps here and there. It's very liberating. In a friendship of three, two usually gang up on the third and pick on him. This changes, the threads go up and down, divide and unite; the number three is a peculiar thing. There is no number four. Four is two or many.“

A beautiful view of Herchen. However, I didn't see a panoramic window.

I didn't see a panoramic window, but a nice view of Herchen!

At this spot, located in the middle of the forest, the hiker encounters not only a small resting place, but also a powerful leap back in human history, long before the beginning of the current Christian era: An Iron Age ring fort once stood here, far from the banks of the river Sieg.