Aar Valley Railway, Historic railway line in Hesse and Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany
The Aar Valley Railway is a rail line in Hesse and Rhineland-Palatinate connecting Wiesbaden to Diez while serving several smaller communities along the way. The route largely follows the course of the river Aar through a narrow valley and crosses gentle hills covered with forests and meadows.
Construction started in 1869 under the direction of Moritz Hilf, and the first stretch between Limburg and Zollhaus opened in June 1870. Economic shifts in later decades led to partial closures and new uses for different sections of the line.
A long stretch follows the river Aar through small towns with timber-frame houses and forested hills. Travelers once used this connection to reach the spa town of Langenschwalbach for its traditional water treatments.
Part of the line is currently out of service, while other sections remain in use for freight trains and tourist rides. Travelers should check which areas are operational, as not all stretches are accessible throughout.
Between 1985 and 2009, a museum railway operated on one section with historic trains. Since 2007, the sparkling wine producer Henkell has used part of the tracks to transport raw materials to its production facilities.
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