Im Tal
Sculpture landscape of over ten hectares between Hasselbach and Werkhausen in the Westerwald, shaped since 1986 by about 50 artists.
About the museum
In 1986 the sculptor Erwin Wortelkamp, who had settled in the old schoolhouse of Hasselbach, began shaping a valley between Hasselbach and Werkhausen with art. He invited sculptors, landscape architects, writers, and musicians to create site-specific works on meadows, pastures, and woodland plots acquired bit by bit.
By now about 50 artists have contributed; on roughly eleven hectares there are 49 artworks and four houses. The grounds are not a manicured park but a near-natural, extensively managed cultural landscape with a stream floodplain, wet meadows, ponds, and cattle pastures, crossed by mown paths. Historic garden artists such as Friedrich Ludwig von Sckell also served as a model for the interplay of landscape and art.
The family initiative gave rise in 2006 to the Stiftung Wortelkamp (Wortelkamp Foundation), which is meant to secure the site and the artistic work permanently for the public; a friends' association was founded in the same year. In 2009 the Depositum for the work of Erwin Wortelkamp opened in nearby Weyerbusch. In 2026 the project celebrated its 40th anniversary.
Highlights
- House for August Sander by Hanspeter Demetz
- "Sleeping Beauty" ("Schlafende Schönheit") by Gerda Steiner and Jörg Lenzlinger
- Hermitage by Gloria Friedmann
- Haus für die Kunst with changing exhibitions
- Near-natural stream floodplain with wet meadows and ponds
Permanent exhibitions
- Skulpturenlandschaft im Tal – Around 50 artworks and artists' houses blend into the meadows, stream floodplain, and wooded hills of the valley. Mown paths link the works into a tour of several hours.
- Founded
- 1986
- Operated by
- im Tal – Stiftung Wortelkamp
Admission & discounts
| Adults | €5 |
|---|---|
| Reduced | €2Children, young people, students |
| Children & teens | €2Children and young people €2. |
| Students & apprentices | €2 |
| Groups (14+ people) | €10 per personGuided tours by arrangement: up to 13 people flat fee €150, from 14 people €10 per person. |
The fee can also be paid contactlessly by bank transfer to the foundation's account; donations for the upkeep and further development of the grounds are welcome.
Accessibility
The museum hasn’t published any information on this – please ask the museum directly.
Kids & families
Great for kids & families
| Time needed | approx. 3 hrs |
|---|
- Activity booklet, scavenger hunt or kids’ audio guide
A children's map designed by children for children leads through the valley. Children and young people pay €2.
Getting there & parking
By public transit
Hasselbach Tankstelle · 10-min walk
Bus 563/291 from Altenkirchen (connection to the Oberwesterwaldbahn, line 461 from Au/Sieg); limited bus service on weekends. On Sundays from May to October, the Westerwald-Steig shuttle bus to Weyerbusch, from there about 30 minutes on foot.
By car
Parking available
Parking in front of the Haus für die Kunst (Schulstraße 18) and on Leinger Weg opposite the cemetery.
GPS address: Schulstraße 18, 57635 Hasselbach. Take the B8 between Hennef and Altenkirchen, turn toward Werkhausen in Hasselbach, and after 150 m you reach the Haus für die Kunst. Taxi from Altenkirchen or Eitorf station about 15–20 minutes.
Get directionsAmenities & dining
- Café: not available
- Restaurant: not available
No snack option, picnicking not allowed; places to eat in Weyerbusch, about 1 km away.
Events & venue rental
The museum hasn’t published any information on this – please ask the museum directly.
Plan your visit
| Guided tours | yes |
|---|---|
| Good to know | A full tour takes about three hours, often longer. Sturdy footwear recommended; no bike or horse trails, enter at your own risk. Guided tours by arrangement. |
