View source for Westerwald

{{Short description|Mountain range in Germany}}
{{About|the German mountain range|the similarly named region and municipality of the Netherlands (both known in West Frisian as Westerwâlde)|Westerwolde (disambiguation){{!}}Westerwolde|the asteroid|10253 Westerwald}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2018}}
{{Infobox mountain
| name =
| photo = Arborn Panorama.jpg
| photo_caption = The Westerwald near Arborn ([[Greifenstein]])
| parent = [[Rhenish Massif]]
| state = [[Hesse]], North Rhine-Westphalia, [[Rhineland-Palatinate]], Germany
| location =
| geology = includes [[basalt]], [[quartzite]], [[slate]]
| period =
| area_km2 = 3000
| orogeny = formed as part of the German [[Central Uplands]]
| highest = [[Fuchskaute]]
| elevation = {{Höhe|657.3|DE-NN}}
| coordinates = 
| length_km = 60
| range_coordinates = {{coord|50.6666667|N|07.8333333|E|region:DE|format=dms|display=inline,title}}
| map_image = Westerwald - Deutsche Mittelgebirge, Serie A-de.png
| map_caption = Westerwald overview map
}}

The '''Westerwald''' ({{IPA|de|ˈvɛstɐvalt|-|De-Westerwald.ogg}}; literally 'Western forest') is a low [[mountain range]] on the right bank of the river [[Rhine]] in the [[States of Germany|German federal states]] of [[Rhineland-Palatinate]], Hesse and [[North Rhine-Westphalia]]. It is a part of the [[Rhenish Massif]] ({{lang|de|Rheinisches Schiefergebirge}} or Rhenish [[Slate]] Mountains). Its highest elevation, at 657&nbsp;m above sea level, is the [[Fuchskaute]] in the High Westerwald.

Tourist attractions include the {{ill|Dornburg (Oppidum)|lt=Dornburg|de}} (394 metres), site of some [[Celts|Celtic]] ruins from [[La Tène culture|La Tène times]] (5th to 1st century BC), found in the [[Dornburg, Hesse|community of the same name]], and [[Limburg an der Lahn]], a town with a [[Middle Ages|mediaeval]] centre.

The [[Geology|geologically]] old, heavily [[Erosion|eroded]] range of the Westerwald is in its northern parts overlaid by a [[Volcano|volcanic]] upland made of [[Neogene]] [[basalt]] layers. It covers an area of some {{convert|50|×|70|km|abbr=on}}, and therefore roughly {{convert|3000|km2|abbr=on}}, making the Westerwald one of Germany's biggest mountain ranges by area. In areas of [[subsidence]], it has in its flatter western part (Lower Westerwald) the characteristics of rolling hills. Typical for the economy of the Upper Westerwald, some 40% of which is actually wooded, are traditional slate mining, [[clay]] [[quarry]]ing, [[diabase]] and basalt mining, [[pottery]] and the iron ore industry, and among other things mining in the {{lang|de|[[Siegerland|Siegerländer Erzrevier]]}} (roughly "Siegerland Ore Grounds"). Despite its relatively slight elevation, the Westerwald has for a low mountain range a typical agreeable climate. Economically and culturally, it belongs among Germany's best known mountain ranges.

The name "Westerwald" was first mentioned in 1048 in a document from the [[Electorate of Trier]] and described at that time the woodlands (''Wald'' is German for "forest" or "woods") around the three churches in [[Bad Marienberg]], [[Rennerod]] and Emmerichenhain, west of the royal court at [[Herborn (Hesse)|Herborn]]. Only since the mid 19th century has the name come into common usage for the whole range.

The High Westerwald has since the [[Middle Ages]] formed the heart of the {{lang|de|Herrschaft zum}} (also {{lang|de|vom}} or {{lang|de|auf dem}}) {{lang|de|Westerwald}} ("Lordship over the Westerwald"). This comprised the three court districts of [[Bad Marienberg (Westerwald)|Marienberg]], Emmerichenhain and [[Stein-Neukirch|Neukirch]]. The Lordship later fell under the governance of the Lordship or County of Beilstein.

== Geography ==

=== Location ===
[[File:Herkersdorf Ottoturm.jpg|thumb|300px|View of the northern Westerwald from the Otto Turm at Herkersdorf/Kirchen]]
The Westerwald lies mostly southwest of the three-state common point shared by Rhineland-Palatinate, Hesse and North Rhine-Westphalia in the districts of [[Altenkirchen (district)|Altenkirchen]], [[Lahn-Dill-Kreis|Lahn-Dill]], [[Limburg-Weilburg]], [[Neuwied (district)|Neuwied]], [[Rhein-Lahn-Kreis|Rhein-Lahn]], [[Rhein-Sieg]], [[Westerwaldkreis]] and partly in [[Siegen-Wittgenstein]]. It is found south of the [[Rothaargebirge]], southwest of the Lahn-Dill-Bergland (another low mountain range), north of the [[Taunus]] and east of the [[Middle Rhine]] and stretches more or less southwards from [[Siegen]] and [[Burbach (Siegerland)|Burbach]], southwestwards from [[Haiger]], northwestwards from [[Weilburg]], northwards from [[Limburg an der Lahn]], northeastwards from [[Koblenz]], eastwards from [[Linz am Rhein]], southeastwards from [[Wissen]] and southwards from [[Betzdorf, Germany|Betzdorf]]. In its centre lie [[Bad Marienberg (Westerwald)|Bad Marienberg]] and [[Hachenburg]].

Clockwise, the Westerwald is bordered by the following river valleys: the [[Rhine]] between [[Koblenz]] and [[Linz am Rhein|Linz]], the [[Sieg (river)|Sieg]] as far as Betzdorf, the [[Heller (river)|Heller]], the [[Dill (river)|Dill]] and from its mouth near [[Wetzlar]], the [[Lahn]] up to [[Lahnstein]].

[[Geomorphology|Geomorphologically]], the Westerwald belongs to the Rhenish Massif, which forms the greater part of that range's eastern half on the Rhine's right bank. Likewise, the [[Gladenbach Uplands]], lying east of the Dill, also belong to the Westerwald, whereas the mountains reaching up to {{convert|680|m|abbr=on}} near the Haiger Saddle ({{lang|de|Haiger Sattel}}) and east of [[Siegen]] are counted as part of the [[Rothaargebirge]].

=== The Westerwald's regions ===
The Westerwald is divided by elevation into these three regions:
* '''Unterer''' or '''Vorderer Westerwald''', or '''Vorderwesterwald''':
: Translated here as '''Lower Westerwald''', this region borders on the Rhine and Lahn river valley landscapes and manifests itself as the western and southwestern part of the Westerwald, a heavily [[truncated upland]] with elevations ranging from 200 to 400&nbsp;m. The subsidence areas found within (''Dierdorfer Senke'', ''Montabaurer Senke'') are known for their clay deposits. Indeed, the name for this small region is the [[Kannenbäckerland]], or "Jug Bakers’ Land", a reference to the traditional [[ceramic art|ceramics]] industry here. In the southwest, in the richly wooded Montabaur Heights (''Montabaurer Höhe'') is found a [[monadnock]]<!--Used to translate "Härtlingszug"; not sure if it's right.--> made of [[quartzite]], as well as the Malberg Conservation Area (''Naturschutzgebiet Malberg''). The [[Siebengebirge]] joining the range in the northwest near [[Bonn]] (reaching 464&nbsp;m) is, however, regionally grouped with the [[Middle Rhine]] area.
* '''Oberer Westerwald''':
: Translated here as '''Upper Westerwald''', this is a partly wooded land of volcanic crests with major basalt layers, above all in the area of the Westerwald Lake Plateau (''Westerwälder Seenplatte''), with elevations ranging from some 350 to 500&nbsp;m. To the south, as part of the Lahn valley, the hilly [[Limburg Basin]] abuts the Upper Westerwald.
* '''Hoher Westerwald''':
:The '''High Westerwald''' is an undulating and basalt-rich tableland decked with woodlands, making for a highly moderated [[microclimate]], especially against extreme warmth. It ranges from roughly 450 to 657&nbsp;m in height. Here is found the Fuchskaute, the highest peak.

=== Climate ===
The climate of the region vastly qualifies as [[oceanic climate|oceanic]] (Köppen climate classification: ''Cfb''), while higher altitudes experience a [[humid continental climate]] (Köppen climate classification: ''Dfb''). 

In the lowlands of the ''Unterwesterwald'' (Lower Westerwald), summers tend to be warm to hot. Erratic [[thunderstorm|convective downpours]] are not uncommon, yet mostly brief. Winters are mild and see a lot of precipitation, which mostly falls as rain. Snowfall occurs multiple times a year, but usually melts within hours. Thermophilic fruits like [[figs]] and [[peaches]] are [[hardiness zones|hardy]] in this area. 

The mountainous areas of the ''Oberwesterwald'' (Upper Westerwald) and ''Hoher Westerwald'' (High Westerwald) feature a much colder climate and are more prone to extreme weather, such as extreme wind gusts during [[european windstorms|extratropical cyclones]]. Summer days are pleasantly warm and rarely become hot due to a cool breeze, while winters are cold and rich in snow. The area is home to a number of [[ski areas]].<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.skiresort.de/skigebiete/westerwald/ | title=Skigebiete Westerwald - Skifahren im Westerwald }}</ref>

=== Places ===
District seats in the Westerwald are: [[Altenkirchen (Westerwald)|Altenkirchen]] (Altenkirchen district), [[Montabaur]] (Westerwaldkreis) and [[Neuwied]] (Neuwied district). Furthermore, the Lahn-Dill-Kreis, the [[Mayen-Koblenz]] district, the Rhein-Lahn-Kreis and the Limburg-Weilburg district each have shares of the Westerwald. If Sieg is taken as the Westerwald's northernmost limit, then the Rhein-Sieg district likewise belongs here, at least in parts (for example the Siebengebirge and the communities of [[Eitorf]] and [[Windeck]]).

=== Transport connections ===
The Westerwald and its outer edges are crossed by stretches of {{lang|de|[[Bundesstraße]]n}} [[Bundesstraße 8|8]], 42, [[Bundesstraße 49|49]], [[Bundesstraße 54|54]], [[Bundesstraße 62|62]], 255, 256, 277, 413 and 414, over which there are connections to the [[Autobahn]]en [[Bundesautobahn 3|A&nbsp;3]] ([[Cologne]]–[[Frankfurt am Main|Frankfurt]]), [[Bundesautobahn 45|A&nbsp;45]] ([[Dortmund]]–[[Aschaffenburg]]) and [[Bundesautobahn 48|A&nbsp;48]].

The most notable railway is the [[Cologne-Frankfurt high-speed rail line]] with minor stops at Montabaur and Limburg an der Lahn.

The High Westerwald is served by [[Siegerland Airport]] for private use and special touristic charters, south of [[Burbach (Siegerland)|Burbach]].

{{wide image| ww panorama bmg1.jpg|1500px|align-cap=center|Panorama of the Westerwald seen from [[Bad Marienberg (Westerwald)|Bad Marienberg]]}}

== Geology ==
[[File:Hummelsberg Basalt Säulen 3.JPG|thumb|Basalt columns at the Hummelsberg]]
[[Geology|Geologically]], the Westerwald is part of the Rhenish Massif, and likewise represents a heavily [[truncated upland|eroded remnant]] of a great [[Variscan orogeny|Variscan]] mountain system which in the [[Mesozoic]] characterized a great deal of Europe.

The [[Devonian]] [[bedrock]] is covered by volcanic masses from the [[Tertiary (period)|Tertiary]], particularly [[basalt]] and [[tuff]]s. Economically important, besides slate, [[limestone]] and clay [[quarry]]ing, were, and still are, iron and its processing industry between [[Rhine|Rheintal]] (Unkel, Linz) and the lower Wied, [[pumice]] gravel in the [[Neuwied]] Basin, various mineral springs and, once, [[Lignite|brown coal]] mining.

The whole Westerwald region lay under a tropically warm arm of the sea in the [[Palaeozoic]] (600 to 270 million years ago). This sea deposited layers of sediments many kilometres thick into the Variscan [[geosyncline]], which were heavily folded in the [[orogeny]] that followed. The towns of [[Siegen]] and [[Koblenz]] on the Westerwald's north and southwest edges even gave two Lower Devonian layers, with their colourful slates, their names. The upper mountain layers are formed of volcanic strata made of basalt containing tuffs.
[[File:WesterwaldTopf3475.JPG|thumb|Typical everyday Westerwald pottery]]
In a few areas, slate and clay have long been quarried, the latter notably in the so-called [[Kannenbäckerland]], but also in a few other places where the clay is worked into the salt-[[Ceramic glaze|glazed]] grey [[Westerwald Pottery]] with [[cobalt blue]] decoration. The pottery industry is centred on [[Höhr-Grenzhausen]]. Exports, particularly to Italy, are also important (more than one million metric tons each year). In the mid 16th century, potters from [[Raeren]] in Belgium migrated into the Westerwald, bringing with them some of their [[Molding (process)|moulds]]. This type of pottery was taken to the [[New World]] and was found in the early [[Chesapeake (tribe)|Chesapeake]] settlements. Today one finds not only highly crafted moulded vases and mugs but also a range of handcrafted utility ware, with hand-painted swirling floral motifs.

In the eastern Westerwald (the part lying in Hesse) are found interesting limestone deposits from the most varied of geological times. Erdbach limestone from the Lower [[Carboniferous]] gave one small time period the name "Erdbachian".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bernstein.naturkundemuseum-bw.de/odonata/paleodat.htm|title=Synoptic Time Table of Earth History<!-- Bot generated title -->}}</ref>

Near [[Breitscheid, Hesse|Breitscheid]] are found the remnants of an [[atoll]] from the subtropical Devonian sea that was here 380,000,000 years ago. Parts of this limestone formation are worked in [[open-pit mining]]; near [[Enspel]], a "[[fossil]] conservation area" has been instituted, in which institutes from several [[Hochschule|colleges]] conduct research and excursions. A few [[Karst topography|karst]] caves are of interest to [[spelaeology]] and bring about the temporary disappearance and reappearance of the Erdbach.

== Mountains ==
{{main|List of mountains and hills of the Westerwald}}
The Westerwald's highest mountain is the [[Fuchskaute]] in the High Westerwald, meaning "fox hollow". Many peaks and crests exceed the 600-metre level. Sorted by elevation above sea level, these are some of the Westerwald's highest elevations:

* [[Fuchskaute]] (657&nbsp;m), near Willingen, Westerwaldkreis, Rhineland-Palatinate
* [[Stegskopf]] (654&nbsp;m), near Emmerzhausen, Altenkirchen district, Rhineland-Palatinate
* [[Salzburger Kopf]] (653&nbsp;m), near Salzburg, Westerwaldkreis, Rhineland-Palatinate
* [[Höllberg]] (643&nbsp;m), near Driedorf, Lahn-Dill-Kreis, Hesse
* [[Auf der Baar]] (618&nbsp;m), near Driedorf/Breitscheid, Lahn-Dill-Kreis, Hesse
* [[Barstein]] (614&nbsp;m), near Breitscheid, Lahn-Dill-Kreis, Hesse
* [[Knoten (Westerwald)|Knoten]] (605&nbsp;m), near Driedorf, Lahn-Dill-Kreis, Hesse
* Die Höh (598&nbsp;m), near Burbach, Siegen-Wittgenstein, North Rhine-Westphalia
* [[Alarmstange]] (542.2&nbsp;m), near Horresen, Westerwaldkreis, Rhineland-Palatinate
* Köppel (540&nbsp;m), near Montabaur, Westerwaldkreis, Rhineland-Palatinate
* Hohenseelbachskopf (530&nbsp;m), near Daaden, Siegen-Wittgenstein and Altenkirchen district, North Rhine-Westphalia and Rhineland-Palatinate
* [[Gräbersberg]] (513.1&nbsp;m), near Alpenrod, Westerwaldkreis, Rhineland-Palatinate
* Mahlscheid (509&nbsp;m), near Herdorf, Siegen-Wittgenstein and Altenkirchen district, North Rhine-Westphalia and Rhineland-Palatinate
* Malberg (422&nbsp;m), near Ötzingen, Westerwaldkreis, Rhineland-Palatinate
* Hummelsberg (389&nbsp;m), near Linz am Rhein, Neuwied district, Rhineland-Palatinate
* Beulskopf (388&nbsp;m), near Altenkirchen, Altenkirchen district, Rhineland-Palatinate
<gallery>
File:Westerwald Höllberg.jpg|Höllberg
File:Blick vom Knoten.jpg|View from the Knoten
File:Hummelsberg (Westerwald).jpg|Hummelsberg
File:Oetzingen-Malberg.jpg|Malberg
</gallery>

== Waterways ==

=== Flowing waters ===
The following are the Westerwald's rivers and streams:
* Rivers whose valley systems border the range (clockwise):
** [[Rhine]] – southwest edge
** [[Sieg (river)|Sieg]] – north edge
** [[Dill (river)|Dill]] – east edge, tributary to the Lahn
** [[Lahn]] – southeast edge
* Smaller rivers within the range:
** [[Mehrbach]]
** [[Sayn (river)|Sayn]] (also known as Saynbach) – in the southern (Lower) Westerwald, flows west to the Rhine
** [[Wied (river)|Wied]] (between Sieg and Sayn) – flows west to the Rhine
** [[Nister (river)|Nister]] (in the northeast, boundary of Upper Westerwald) – flows northwest to the Sieg
** Elbbach (Sieg) – near Wissen to the Sieg
** [[Heller (river)|Heller]] – rises in northern Westerwald and flows through the [[Siegerland]] to Betzdorf and into the Sieg
** [[Elbbach]] (Lahn) – near [[Ailertchen]] to the Lahn
** [[Daade]] – empties between Alsdorf and Grünebach into the Heller
* Greater streams and brooks:
** [[Aubach (Wied)|Aubach]], [[Brexbach]], [[Dietzhölze]], Erdbach, [[Fockenbach]], Gelbach, Hellerbach, Holzbach, Kerkerbach, Masselbach, Ulmbach.

=== Standing waters ===
* Breitenbach Reservoir (Rennerod)
* Driedorf Reservoir
* Großer Weiher
* Fischweiher
* Heisterberger Weiher
* Krombach Reservoir
* [[Seeweiher (Mengerskirchen)|Seeweiher]] near [[Mengerskirchen]]
* Waagweiher
* Waldsee Maroth
* [[Westerwald Lake District]]
** Brinkenweiher
** [[Dreifelder Weiher]] (or Seeweiher)
** [[Haidenweiher]]
** Hausweiher
** Hofmannsweiher
** Postweiher
** [[Wölferlinger Weiher]]
* [[Wiesensee]] (reservoir)

''Weiher'' is a German word meaning "pond".

==History==

===Early times===
Through prehistoric finds it can be determined that the [[Celts]] settled in the Westerwald and were using the iron ore deposits in the so-called [[Hallstatt culture|Hallstatt times]] ([[Iron Age]], roughly 750 to 500 BC). In all likelihood they came into the area from the [[Hunsrück]]. From [[La Tène culture|La Tène times]] come the Celtic ringwall-girded defensive and sheltering castles which may be found on, among other peaks, the Malberg. Already by La Tène times, [[Germanic peoples]] were thrusting in from the east and from the Sieg valley. They came about 380 BC into the Upper Westerwald, bypassing the High Westerwald, seeing it as nothing more than a trackless wooded wilderness, after which they eventually came up against the Rhine in the 2nd century.

===Roman times===
Even in the time when the Celts found themselves having to avoid the Germanic invaders by moving to the west, the [[Ancient Rome|Romans]] were also pushing in from the Rhine's left bank to the southwest. However, the Romans only managed to seize a strip of land on the Rhine's right bank and the so-called Rhine-Westerwald; the Westerwald itself lay outside the Roman-occupied area, for the Romans preferred to maintain a little-settled, most likely pathless wilderness as their border.

===Chatti times===
The Westerwald's permanent settlement and thereby its territorial history began with the [[Chatti]] (Hessians) pushing their way into the area after the Romans were driven out in the 3rd century. Placename endings such as '' –ar, –mar ''and'' –aha'' ("Haigraha" = [[Haiger]]) stemming from the [[Migration Period]] (''"Völkerwanderung"'') can still be found now. These lie around the forest's outer edges in basins and dales whose soils and climate were favourable to early settlers, and include, for instance, [[Hadamar]], [[Waldbrunn, Hesse|Lahr]] and [[Wetzlar]]. From the 4th to the 6th century, the settlements from the time of the taking of the land arose in formerly pathless areas, taking endings such as ''–ingen'' and ''–heim'', like [[Bellingen, Rhineland-Palatinate|Bellingen]] and [[Montabaur|Bladernheim]]; these lie on the broad, raised plains in the Upper Westerwald.

===Frankish times===
The [[Franks]] built their old settlements on the edge of the Westerwald in the central areas of their districts, to build up slowly and permanently strongholds in the interior. There arose places with names ending in ''–rode, –scheid, –hahn, –berg, –tal'' and ''–seifen''. Once clearing settlements had been established and logging for iron ore [[smelting]] was under way, the widespread destruction of the forest began.<ref>"Der Westerwald" by Hermann-Josef Roth (DuMont)</ref> Between the 6th and 9th centuries came settlement expansion from the old settlements towards the edges, a process still witnessed in placename endings such as ''–hausen, –hofen, –kirch, –burg'' or ''–tal''.<ref>"Das Westerwaldbuch", p. 33 ff. from the Westerwaldverein</ref>

===Middle Ages===
The last settlement period in the Westerwald began in the 10th century and ended about 1300. Through Carolingian policy and therefore the Trier and Cologne mission, this area underwent Christianization. Trier advanced up the Lahn, Cologne to the Rhine and Sieg. Trier-Lorrainian and Lower Rhine influences were nevertheless brought into the Westerwald. Among the witnesses to the art of building at that time is the monastery church at Limburg-[[Dietkirchen]], in its oldest parts.

After many changes in ownership between the [[Ottonian dynasty|Ottonian]] and [[Salian dynasty|Salian]] noble families, it was in the end the Counts of Sayn, Diez and Wied who managed to take hold of extensive landholdings. Particular importance was achieved by the Counts of Laurenburg, who later called themselves the Counts of [[Nassau, Germany|Nassau]]. In the east, the Landgraves of Hesse put it about that they could beat the Archbishopric of Mainz on the battlefield. Moreover, the Counts of Wied, the Counts of Sayn-Wittgenstein and the Electorate of Trier were all prominent landlords.

===Modern times===
Political relations were simplified until the 16th century. Among the four greater powers' spheres of influence (Mainz, Cologne, Trier, Hesse), the House of Nassau managed to expand and strengthen its hold on its territory on the [[Dill (river)|Dill]] between [[Siegen]] and [[Nassau, Germany|Nassau]]. After the Napoleonic upheavals, Nassau had to share broad swathes of the Westerwald with the newly minted power [[Prussia]]. A sovereign [[Duchy of Nassau]] existed until it was annexed by Prussia in 1866.

Nowadays, the Westerwald is shared among three German federal states: Hesse, North Rhine-Westphalia and Rhineland-Palatinate.

== Famous people ==
[[File:Sabine Baetzing.jpg|thumb|Sabine Bätzing]]
* [[John Peter Altgeld]] ([[Governor of Illinois]])
* [[August Sander]] photographer
* [[Sabine Bätzing]] (German politician, [[Social Democratic Party of Germany|SPD]])
* Hans-Arthur Bauckhage (German politician, [[Free Democratic Party (Germany)|FDP]])
* Johann Wilhelm Bausch (Bishop of Limburg 1834–1840)
* Joseph Blank (German politician, [[Christian Democratic Union (Germany)|CDU]])
* [[Kim Petras]], singer-song writer 
* [[Theodor Blank]] (former Federal minister, CDU)
* [[Wilhelm Boden]] (German politician, CDU; Premier of Rhineland-Palatinate 1946–1947)
* [[Katja Burkard]] (German television moderator)
* [[Dieter Cunz]] (professor of German, Ohio State University)
* [[Paul Deussen]] (German philosophic historian and [[Indology|Indologist]])
* [[Paul Dickopf]] (co-founder of the [[Federal Criminal Police Office (Germany)|BKA]])
* [[Ralph Dommermuth]] (entrepreneur)
* [[Thomas Enders]] (manager)
* Dominik Eulberg ([[electronic music]] artist and disc jockey)
* Dieter Fritsch (German [[Surveying|surveyor]])
* Erhard Geyer (former Federal Chairman of the German Officials’ Federation)
* Frank Göbler (German [[Slavic studies|Slavist]])
* [[Paul A. Grimm]] (German artist)
* Dieter Hackler (Federal Commissioner for the Civil Service 1991–2006)
* Annegret Held (German writer)
* Hendrik Hering (German politician, SPD)
* [[Joseph Höffner]] (Bishop of [[Münster]] 1962–1969 and [[Archbishop]] of Cologne 1969–1987)
* Joachim Hörster (German politician CDU, Member of the [[Bundestag]])
[[File:6640Bodo Illgner.JPG|thumb|Bodo Illgner]]
* [[Bodo Illgner]] (German national [[Association football|football]] player)
* Johannes Kalpers (German singer)
* [[Kaspar Kögler]] (German painter and poet)
* [[Georg Leber]] (former Federal minister, SPD)
* [[Franz Leuninger]] ([[German resistance to Nazism|Resistance]] fighter against the [[Nazi Germany|National Socialist régime]], died 1945)
* [[Ernst Lindemann]] (German naval officer, Captain of the ''[[German battleship Bismarck|Bismarck]]'')
* Peter, Manfred, Uwe and Günter Ludolf, the main producers of the television series ''[[Die Ludolfs – 4 Brüder auf'm Schrottplatz|Die Ludolfs]]''
* [[Manfred Rosenkranz]] (German roofer in [[Mauden]])
* [[Heinrich August Luyken]] (German writer in [[Esperanto]])
* [[Johann Ludwig von Nassau-Hadamar]] (German prince)
* [[Hanns-Josef Ortheil]] (German writer)
* [[Friedrich Wilhelm Raiffeisen]] (German social reformer)
* [[Mike Rockenfeller]] (German [[Auto racing|racecar driver]])
* [[Gerhard Roth]] (German politician, SPD)
* [[Barbara Rudnik]] (German actress)
* [[Rudolf Scharping]] (German politician, SPD)
* Dirk Schiefen (German musician)
* [[Jan Schlaudraff]] (German national football player)
* Dominik Schwaderlapp (Vicar-General of the Archbishopric of Cologne)
* Gerd Silberbauer (German actor)
* [[Martin Stadtfeld]] (German pianist)
[[File:Hw-stein.jpg|thumb|Heinrich Friedrich Karl vom Stein]]
* [[Heinrich Friedrich Karl vom Stein]] ([[Prussia]]n politician)
* Hermann Heinrich Traut (German librarian)
* [[Johann Philipp von Walderdorf]] (as Johann IX [[Prince-elector|Elector]] and Archbishop of [[Electorate of Trier|Trier]] 1756–1768, [[Prince-Bishop]] of [[Worms, Germany|Worms]] 1763–1768)
* Erich Wenderoth (German jurist and co-founder of the ''[[Rheinische Post]]'')
* [[Siegfried II of Westerburg|Siegfried von Westerburg]] (Archbishop of Cologne 1275–1297)
* [[Clemens Wilmenrod]] (German [[TV Cooking show|television]] [[Celebrity chef|cook]])

==Westerwaldlied==
{{Main|Westerwaldlied}}
The Westerwald is also internationally known in songs, above all in [[Folk music|folksongs]], and particularly the "Westerwaldlied" ("Westerwald Song"), as well as "Westerwald-Marsch" ("Westerwald March"), "Westerwald, du bist so schön" ("Westerwald, you are so lovely"), the "Neues Westerwaldlied" ("New Westerwald Song") by songwriter Ulrik Remy,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ulrikremy.com/|title=ulrik remy - willkommen - welcome|first=Up A Tree Advertizing|last=L.L.C.|website=www.ulrikremy.com}}</ref> "Ich bin aus 'm Westerwald" ("I am from the Westerwald") and "Das schönste Mädchen vom Westerwald" ("The Loveliest Girl from the Westerwald") by Karl-Eberhard Hain and Jürgen Hardeck, made well known by [[Höhner|De Höhner]], Die Schröders and other groups.

The "Westerwaldlied" is also sung by the [[Military of Chile|Chilean Armed Forces]] and is known as "Himno de la Sección".<ref>Archived at [https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211211/qlMRAyRS8jI Ghostarchive]{{cbignore}} and the [https://web.archive.org/web/20160307063455/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qlMRAyRS8jI Wayback Machine]{{cbignore}}: {{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qlMRAyRS8jI|title=himno de la seccion (Ejercito de Chile)|last=Fernando Rojas|date=10 February 2010|via=YouTube}}{{cbignore}}</ref> It is also the inspiration for the [[Republic of Korea Armed Forces|South Korean]] military song, "Our Nation Forever".<ref>Archived at [https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211211/hCiyAYDmhjw Ghostarchive]{{cbignore}} and the [https://web.archive.org/web/20200427065653/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hCiyAYDmhjw&gl=US&hl=en Wayback Machine]{{cbignore}}: {{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hCiyAYDmhjw&vl=ko|title=South Korean Military March - "My Nation Forever" (겨레여 영원하여라)|last=Rhee|date=26 June 2017|via=YouTube}}{{cbignore}}</ref><ref>Archived at [https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211211/DniLu1nIdmA Ghostarchive]{{cbignore}} and the [https://web.archive.org/web/20200414024311/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DniLu1nIdmA&gl=US&hl=en Wayback Machine]{{cbignore}}: {{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DniLu1nIdmA|title=한국군가 - 겨레여 영원하여라 [Our Nation Forever]|last=W시호|date=21 July 2014|via=YouTube}}{{cbignore}}</ref> In recent years it has become somewhat controversial in Germany due to its origins during the National Socialist era,<ref name="auto">{{cite web|url=https://www.dw.com/en/german-cdu-youth-wing-filmed-singing-nazi-era-military-song/a-46297480|title=German CDU youth wing filmed singing Nazi-era military song - DW - 14.11.2018|last=Deutsche Welle (www.dw.com)|website=DW.COM}}</ref> with the German military ceasing performances of it in 2017.<ref name="auto"/><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ww-kurier.de/artikel/57942-westerwaldlied-ist-in-der-diskussion|title=Westerwaldlied ist in der Diskussion|website=www.ww-kurier.de|date=17 May 2017 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.berlinjournal.biz/liederbuch-der-bundeswehr-nicht-mehr-singen/|title=Diese Lieder sollen Soldaten nicht mehr singen|first=Michael|last=Müller|date=12 May 2017|website=Berlin Journal}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://katjatriebel.com/2017/05/13/ministerium-stoppt-bundeswehr-liederbuch/|title=Ministerium stoppt Bundeswehr-Liederbuch|first=Katja|last=Triebel|date=13 May 2017}}</ref>

== Other ==
The standard German term for a Westerwald dweller is ''Westerwälder'' ({{IPA|de|ˈvɛstɐvɛldɐ|IPA}}; plural: same), 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.

One of the 12 best-rated hiking trails in Germany is the Westerwaldsteig. The Westerwaldsteig crosses the Westerwald from east ([[Herborn (Hesse)|Herborn]]) to west ([[Rhine]]).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ich-geh-wandern.de/westerwaldsteig|title=Westerwaldsteig|website=GPS-Wanderatlas}}</ref>

== Bibliography ==
* Hermann Josef Roth: ''Naturkundliche Bibliographie des rechtsrheinischen Schiefergebirges zwischen Lahn und Sieg'' (= Planaria, 3). Overath 1989, {{ISSN|0931-3737}}

== References ==
{{reflist}}

== External links ==
{{Wiktionary|Westerwald}}
{{Wikivoyage|Westerwald}}
{{commons category|Westerwald}}
* [http://www.gfh-westerwald.de/ History and local lore in the Westerwald] {{in lang|de}}
* Heiner Feldhoff: [http://www.kritische-ausgabe.de/hefte/provinz/profeldhoff.pdf „Hui Wäller? – Allemol! Ein literarhistorischer Gruß aus dem Westerwald“] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070928011452/http://www.kritische-ausgabe.de/hefte/provinz/profeldhoff.pdf |date=28 September 2007 }} (PDF), in: ''Kritische Ausgabe'', Heft 2/2001 {{in lang|de}}
* [http://www.westerwaldforum.de/ Information about the Westerwald, initiatives and many pictures] {{in lang|de}}
* [http://www2.genealogy.net/vereine/ArGeWe/karten-wewa.htm Historic Westerwald maps] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110723133826/http://www2.genealogy.net/vereine/ArGeWe/karten-wewa.htm |date=23 July 2011 }} {{in lang|de}}

{{German Central Uplands}}
{{Regions of the Rhenish Massif}}
{{Portal bar|Germany|Mountains}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Westerwald| ]]
[[Category:Rhineland]]
[[Category:Rhenish Massif]]
[[Category:Forests and woodlands of North Rhine-Westphalia]]
[[Category:Forests and woodlands of Rhineland-Palatinate]]
[[Category:Mountain ranges of North Rhine-Westphalia]]
[[Category:Mountain ranges of Rhineland-Palatinate]]
[[Category:Mountain ranges of Hesse]]
[[Category:Forests and woodlands of Hesse]]