The best walks and hikes around Kraam

The half-timbered village of Mehren is considered one of the most beautiful villages in the region. Several noteworthy half-timbered houses and other interesting buildings are clustered in the village center. The late Gothic parish church, built in the 12th century on the site of an earlier wooden structure, is one of the oldest village churches in the Westerwald region. A striking feature is the added half-timbered granary, which was constructed in 1744 to address problems with the original double-tiered roof. Above the church stands the old rectory from the 18th century, a half-timbered building with a hipped roof. Below the church, on Mehrbachstraße, is the "Ahl Schul," the old school. This late Gothic half-timbered house is architecturally outstanding. Opposite the church, at Kirchstraße 1, stands another remarkable half-timbered house: a 17th-century farmhouse built in the form of a transverse farmhouse. Its roof is thatched. More beautiful half-timbered houses and farmsteads can be found throughout the town.

The rectory at Mehrbachstrasse 8 was built around 1880 from solid natural stone. A striking feature is the projecting gable end, which juts out from the building and displays a cross in the brickwork. Next to it stands a single-story, half-timbered outbuilding.

The house at Mehrbachstraße 10 is a one-and-a-half-story building with a hipped roof. The ground floor is solidly constructed of masonry, roughly plastered, and painted green. The upper section features decorative half-timbering. Its varied design makes it very appealing; a beautiful building that blends in well with the surrounding half-timbered village.

This house at Kirchstraße 1 is a typical half-timbered farmhouse. These farmhouses combine living quarters, stable, and barn side-by-side under a continuous roof ridge. This is evident from the large gate in the left wing. In more recent times, after the stable and barn were no longer needed, they were often converted to expand the living space. This appears to have been done here as well. A particularly striking feature of this half-timbered house is its thatched roof, which reflects the historical construction method and appearance.

The "Ahl Schul" (Old School) is a late Gothic timber-framed house dating back to the 16th century. As its name suggests, it once housed the village school. In 1860, the building was expanded with the addition of the New School, a brick structure directly attached to the old school. The old and ornate timber framing of the Ahl Schul is truly beautiful and a remarkable building in the heart of Mehren.

Orfgen has a very beautiful setting. There are plenty of hiking options to keep you active, depending on your fitness level. This bench is one of many that can be explored on foot. From here, you have excellent views!

really great to look at, rare enough that something like this is still preserved

beautiful old church that is not always open