Upper Westerwald

The Westerwald lies mostly southwest of the Three-Country point shared by Rhineland-Palatinate, Hesse and North Rhine-Westphalia.

It is a part of the Rheinisches Schiefergebirge (Rhenish Slate Mountains).

The Upper Westerwald is an undulating and basalt-rich tableland decked with woodlands that has a distinctly agreeable climate, and elevations ranging from roughly 450 to 657m. Here is found the Fuchskaute, the Westerwald's highest peak. In its centre lie Bad Marienberg and Hachenburg.

Quelle: Westerwald Touristik-Service, Fotograf: Rainer Witzgall

Find a map of the Westerwald here.

The standard German term for a Westerwald dweller is Westerwälder, but they are also popularly known as Basaltköpp ("Basalt Heads"), as they are said to be thickheaded, and they live in a basalt-rich region. Wäller is another vernacular name for them.