cathedral over forest and river in limburg an der lahn in germany
Travel in Germany

Travel Guide to Limburg an der Lahn: Beautiful Old Town and Cathedral

Home » Travel in Germany » Travel Guide to Limburg an der Lahn: Beautiful Old Town and Cathedral

Limburg an der Lahn is a charming historic town that was once a major crossroads between Frankfurt and Cologne. Here, you’ll find beautifully preserved half-timbered houses rich in archaeological and architectural value, as well as the remarkable Limburg Cathedral (Limburger Dom) with the seven spires, more than any other church in Germany! At most major sites there are descriptions available in German, English, and French. From Frankfurt, you can get here in just 30 minutes, and we had a wonderful afternoon exploring!

Where is Limburg an der Lahn?

Limburg sits along the Lahn River, between Frankfurt and Koblenz. It’s ideal for a half-day trip or a relaxing day trip from Frankfurt, and can even be included in a route between Frankfurt, Koblenz, or Cologne.

🔗 Exploring Cologne: World Heritage Cathedral and Perfume City

Map shows the location of Limburg (Lahn)

What makes Limburg an der Lahn special?

⭐️ A picturesque historic town with beautifully preserved half-timbered houses of significant archaeological and architectural interest.

⭐️ The stunning Limburg Cathedral, with its unique seven spires—more than any other church in Germany!

⭐️ Easily accessible by car or public transport.

How to Get to Limburg (Lahn)?

🚗 By Car

Limburg is conveniently located off the A3 highway—just an hour from Frankfurt and around 40 minutes from Koblenz, making it perfect for a quick day trip!

We parked at 🅿️ CONTIPARK Parkhaus Cityparkhaus, which was super convenient. Just a 2-minute (130 meters) walk from the parking lot and you’re already in the heart of the old town at Bischofsplatz! Parking costs €2 per hour or €9 for the whole day (2024 rates).

Additional reading: 🔗

🚆 Public Transport

Head to the Deutsche Bahn website, where I’ve already set the destination for you—just add your date, time, and starting location to find the best option.

From Frankfurt, it takes only 30 minutes by high-speed rail (ICE) to reach Limburg, and from Koblenz, the train ride is about an hour. The train station is just a short walk from the cathedral and the city center, making it easy to start exploring right away!

Starting Point🚗 Driving🚆 Train
Frankfurt1 hourICE (high speed rail) – only 30 mins
Koblenz40 minutesTrain – about 1 hour

I’ve also written a blog post about Koblenz before, so feel free to include it in your itinerary if you’re visiting nearby: 🔗

Limburg (Lahn) Sightseeing Map

All the sights mentioned below are marked and organized on this map. Just click the star to save it to your own Google Maps—it’s super convenient for planning an independent trip! 😊

Recommended Sights for a Day Trip to Limburg an der Lahn

📍 Bischofsplatz, Limburg

After parking, just a two-minute walk brought us to Bischofsplatz—a lovely sight to start our day! The square is home to the city church and the old monastery buildings on its east side. Here you’ll find one of Germany’s oldest Franciscan monasteries, dating back to around 1232. We were so busy hunting for a restaurant and admiring the architecture that we missed the church and monastery buildings—oops!

Charming half-timbered houses with intricate woodwork.
Beautiful half-timbered houses
Traditional half-timbered house in Limburg’s Bischofsplatz with beautiful architecture.
Half-timbered house, photo taken at Bischofsplatz, Limburg

📍 Domplatz, Limburg

Following the signs and stairs, we arrived at 📍Domplatz.

Autumn vibes!
Front view of Limburg Cathedral, with some areas covered for restoration.
The cathedral’s front (Sadly, part of the exterior was covered when we visited!)

With its seven spires, the cathedral is gorgeous from every angle.

The cathedral from another angle
Scenic view of a half-timbered house and expansive landscape at the Limburg Cathedral.
View at the Cathedral: stunning half-timbered house and open landscape

📍 Limburg Cathedral (Limburger Dom)

We entered the cathedral with little expectation, only to be blown away! We ended up spending about half an hour inside, admiring the arches, vivid stained-glass windows, and the sacred ambiance enhanced by the hymns playing softly.

Built starting around 1190 and completed in 1235, Limburg Cathedral combines late Romanesque and early Gothic styles (Rhenish transition style). The three-aisled interior still follows its original 13th-century design.

Limburg Cathedral interior featuring a large organ and intricate stained-glass windows.
Organ pipes and stained-glass windows in the cathedral
Close-up of hand-painted details on the cathedral’s interior walls.
Many of the decorations are hand-painted
Elegant arched design within Limburg Cathedral’s interior.
I love the cathedral’s arched design
Interior design of Limburg Cathedral
Interior design of Limburg Cathedral

Here are three fun facts about the cathedral:

1️⃣ Perched on a rock above the Lahn River, the cathedral is Limburg’s most iconic landmark. In 1827, it was elevated to a cathedral.

2️⃣ With its seven spires—the most of any German church—the tallest spire reaches 66 meters at the crossing.

3️⃣ Limburg Cathedral appeared on the 1,000-DM banknote from 1964 to 1992!

While we were there, parts of the exterior were under wraps, but luckily, I found a great photo on Pexels to give you an idea of its beauty.

cathedral over forest and river in limburg an der lahn in germany
Photo by Wolfgang Weiser on Pexels.com
Statue of Virgin Mary surrounded by lit candles inside the cathedral.
Statue of the Virgin Mary with candles

Inside, I got into a chat with two other visitors photographing the figure of St. Mary and stained glass. One was a German grandma who talked with me excitedly, “Of all the churches I’ve seen, I’ve never seen one with Jesus holding a toy!”

Close-up of a statue of baby Jesus holding a toy.
Little Jesus is actually holding a toy—so cute!

The German grandma also asked if we’d been to the old town yet and insisted it was a must-see, saying, “Hurry up and go!” 😂

Religious artwork inside Limburg Cathedral depicting Noah’s Ark and a rainbow.
Noah’s Ark and the promise of the rainbow
Powered by GetYourGuide

📍 Limburg Castle (Schloss Limburg)

Right behind the cathedral is Limburg Castle. While the castle itself isn’t particularly striking, it’s a great spot for admiring the cathedral’s backside as well as the scenic views over the Lahn River.

Rear view of the cathedral, viewed from Limburg Castle
View of Limburg Cathedral from the castle
View of the cathedral’s backside from the castle (yep, that’s me snapping a photo!)
Scenic view of the Lahn River and the New Bridge as seen from Limburg Castle.
The Lahn River and New bridge, viewed from the Limburg Castle.

📍 Kornmarkt, Limburg

Leaving the castle and cathedral on the hill, we were off to explore the beautiful old town, as recommended by the German grandma! Kornmarkt, which means Grain Market, reflects its medieval past as a bustling trade center, showcasing Limburg’s long history of commerce.

The architecture in the old town is stunning! I couldn’t help but think, “How wealthy was Limburg 800 years ago?! And how have they preserved it so well?”

The charming Limburger Kaffeerösterei at Kornmarkt square.
📍 Limburger Kaffeerösterei, viewed from Kornmarkt
Close-up of a vintage mailbox on the wall of Limburger Kaffeerösterei.
A beautifully old-fashioned mailbox on the Limburger Kaffeerösterei’s wall
The shop sign of Zum golden Hirsch at Kornmarkt square in Limburg an der Lahn.
📍 Kornmarkt view: Zum golden Hirsch
Photo captured at nearby street – Böhmergasse
Photo captured at nearby street – Böhmergasse

📍 Römer 2-4-6

Built in 1289, Römer 2-4-6 is Germany’s oldest freestanding timber-frame house (German: Fachwerkhaus), with national historical significance. The basement, dating back to around 1200, hints at its origins as the home of a wealthy Jewish man, complete with a mikvah (ritual bath) discovered within. Over the centuries, unprofessional repairs damaged its structure, but from 1986 to 1989, a professional restoration revived it, complete with architectural and archaeological studies.

Looking at the display boards next to the building, I felt very impressive, but when I looked at the building, I felt that it was mediocre.

Römer 2-4-6, Germany's oldest timber-frame house
Römer 2-4-6, one of the Germany’s oldest timber-frame house

It was difficult to take a good shot as the street is very narrow. I used the 0.5x function in iphone to capture it.

Powered by GetYourGuide

📍 House of the Seven Deadly Sins (Haus der sieben Laster)

House of the Seven Deadly Sins, a protected 16th-century timber-frame building in Limburg’s old town, features carved faces symbolizing the seven deadly sins—pride, envy, intemperance, greed, lust, wrath, and sloth. They’re hilariously hideous!

House of the Seven Deadly Sins - carved, exaggerated faces representing the seven deadly sins.
House of the Seven Deadly Sins (Haus der sieben Laster)

📍 Old Lahn Bridge (Alte Lahnbrücke Limburg)

Limburg’s Old Lahn Bridge, built in the 14th century, once served as a vital link on medieval trade routes from Cologne to Frankfurt and Siegen to Wiesbaden. Since a new bridge was constructed in 1968, the Old Lahn Bridge is no longer used for major traffic but has become a beloved photo spot for visitors.

stone bridge by the river in germany
Photo by Wolfgang Weiser on Pexels.com

The bridge has six arches and a statue of St. John of Nepomuk, the bridge’s patron saint, in the center.

Statue of St. John of Nepomuk standing as a guardian in the center of the Old Lahn Bridge.
Statue of St. John of Nepomuk on the bridge

On one of the bridge side, a 14th-century bridge tower (Brückentor) still stands—one of Germany’s last remaining historic bridge towers, underscoring the bridge’s historical importance.

14th-century Brückentor tower by the Old Lahn Bridge, an architectural relic of Limburg’s medieval history.
Bridge Tower (German: The Brückentor)

Getting a shot here with the road nearby felt a bit risky for setting up a tripod, so I opted for a selfie—check!

1, 2, 3, Say “Cheese”!

📍 Plötze, Limburg

The Plötze Square, first mentioned in documents from 1339, is a historic little square in Limburg’s old town, packed with stories!

One of its quirky attractions is the “Säuferbrunnen” statue, which means: Drunkard Fountain. This fountain figure, designed by a local artist in 1985, depicts the town’s captain Friedrich von Hattstein. Known for his extroverted and decadent lifestyle, he was eventually persuaded to “go legit” by the townspeople of Limburg in 1353, even serving as the town’s captain from 1357 to 1363! The fountain is a unique nod to his transformation and is a popular photo spot.

Fun fact: The 1954 German film “The Little Town Will to Go to Sleep” shot its closing scene here, adding a dash of cinematic charm.

Säuferbrunnen created by the Limburg sculptor Karl-Matthäus Winter (1932-2012).

Nearby, there’s also a bronze model of the old town, allowing visitors to admire the town layout in detail.

A small bronze model showing the detailed layout of Limburg's old town.
Bronze model of old town Limburg

More Beautiful Half-Timbered Houses

No need to follow a rigid sightseeing plan here! The old town is compact, so feel free to wander and discover charming half-timbered buildings around every corner.

Quaint half-timbered houses lining the narrow street of Fahrgasse in Limburg's old town.
Photo taken on Fahrgasse street
Quaint half-timbered houses lining the narrow street of Fahrgasse in Limburg's old town.
Photo taken on Fahrgasse street
Picturesque street filled with traditional half-timbered houses, capturing the historic character of Limburg.
Rows of half-timbered houses

Restaurant Recommendations in Limburg (Lahn)

Generale Caffé E Specialita

We arrived in Limburg just around lunchtime after a busy morning. Craving something other than German food, we stumbled upon this cozy Italian spot. The portions were generous and reasonably priced. The pasta was loaded with cheese and fresh herbs, the dessert was delightful, and the coffee was rich and warming—perfect for the chilly day outside!

Address: Frankfurter Str. 1, 65549 Limburg an der Lahn

Plate of pasta carbonara topped with cheese and fresh herbs, served at Generale Caffé E Specialita.
Pasta Carbonara loaded with cheese and herbs
Tasty Italian dessert enjoyed at Generale Caffé E Specialita.
Delicious dessert treat

Café Will 

We didn’t actually try Café Will, but the sign out front caught our attention: “Limburg’s Oldest Café, Family-Owned for Five Generations.” Impressive! A quick online search showed beautiful photos of their cakes and coffee. If you’re in the area, give it a go!

Address: Salzgasse 23, 65549 Limburg an der Lahn

Café Will 

Final Thoughts & Tips

If you’re short on time, you can cover all the sights in just half a day. But if you want to savor the charm of Limburg—maybe pause for a coffee and cake at an outdoor café or browse the adorable shops in the old town—definitely plan for a full day.

Photography Tip: Bring a wide-angle lens! (It’s on my wish list now, haha.) Alternatively, use the 0.5x feature on an iPhone—though it can give the photos a bit of a skewed look.

When we visited in October 2024, part of the cathedral’s exterior was covered. From what I gathered from German news (feel free to correct me if I’m wrong!), they’re currently doing some preliminary measurements, with full renovations scheduled to begin in 2026. Luckily, the interior is still open to visitors, so definitely don’t miss it!

If you found this guide helpful, please consider subscribing by email or following my Instagram for more updates! 😊

Powered by GetYourGuide

2 Comments

  • Rohan Narula

    Just heading over to Limburg this morning from Frankfurt, and was scrambling online to put together a to-do, and discovered your amazing blog – thanks a ton for this, it’s been soooo helpful! 🙂

    • kittyingermany

      Hi Rohan!
      Thank you so much for your lovely comment and sorry for the slow reply, I’ve just recently been catching up on the blog. 😊 I’m so happy to hear the post helped with your trip planning! I hope you had a fantastic time exploring Limburg. It really means a lot that you took the time to leave a message. Thanks again!

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *