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HIKING
IN THE MOSELLE COUNTRYSIDE
Hikes
Tips
As
you already know all roads lead to Rome but at least just as many hiking
trails lead through our wonderful holiday region.
Naturally
you can’t count all of them here. Detailed tips and hiking maps are available
at the reception, but we would just like to tell you of a few now. Maybe
we will wet your appetite to get to know our wonderful area on foot.
The
Moselle and the “Mosel” are terms known world wide. Surrounded by hills
adorned with vines the capricious Mosella meanders through the last 200
of its 500
km journey to the Rhine between the low mountain range countryside of the
Eifel and the Huhnsrück. 2000 years of history have brought about
famous monuments, pretty little towns and villages and impressive half
timbered medieval houses. And aside from all the hectic of following in
the footsteps of the Romans and being enchanted by the charm of one of
the most beautiful stretches of countryside in Germany, hikers are offered
390 km of hill side pathways on both sides of the Moselle.
THE
HISTORY
The
Moselle hill side paths were mapped out on both sides of the Moselle from
Trier to Koblenz in 1910 by the Moselle, Hochwald and Hunsrück Organisation.
In
1972 the Huhnsrück club, as it had become known, gave the left hand
side paths over to the care of the Eifel club. Therefore, in 1990 the Moselle
hill side paths celebrated their 80 year jubilee thanks to decades of vigorous
commitment from honorary path attendants of the Huhnsrück and Eifel
clubs, for the pleasure of uncountable generations of hikers. The task
of making the paths even more
well
known was taken on by the Spa Organisation of Rheinland-Pfalz
THE
TECHNICAL DETAILS
The
Moselle hill side paths run for more than 224 km on the Huhnsrück
side from Koblenz to Palzem. On the other side of the Moselle the hiking
path coming from Luxembourg will be taken over by the Eifel club and become
an extension of the Moselle hill side paths: from Wasserbillig to Trier,
then from Schweich to Koblenz (altogether around 165 km) The single marking
to look for is a white “M”.
The
Moselle hill side path doesn’t always run parallel with the river: it cuts
out several of the Moselle’s bends in order to keep to following the beautiful
view points created by the meander of the river.
THE
MOSELLE HILL SIDE PATHS (HUHNSRÜCK SIDE 224 KM)
1.Koblenz
–main station-Alken (28km)
2.Alken
– Beulich (17 km)
3.Beulich-Treis-Karden
(24 km)
4.Treis-Karden
– Zell (25.5 km)
5.Zell
– Traben-Trarbach (19 km)
6.
Traben-Trarbach – Monzefeld (21 km )
7.Monzefeld
– Papiermühle (22 km)
8.Papiermühle
– Riol (18 km)
9.Riol
– Trier-Ruwer train station (11.5 km)
10.Trier-Ruwer
– Palzem (38 km)
THE
MOSELLE HILL SIDE PATH (EIFEL SIDE 164 KM)
1.Wasserbillig
– Trier (14.5 km)
2.Schweich
– Klüssenrath (15 km)
3.Klüssenrath
– Lieser (19 km)
4.Lieser
– Uerzig – Alf (22 km)
5.Uerzig
– Alf (22 km)
6.Alf
– Cochem (24.5 km)
7.Cochem
– Karden (14 km)
8.Karden
– Münstermaifeld (14 km)
9.Karden
– Hatzenport (12.5 km)
10.Münstermaifeld
– Koblenz-Güls (25.5 km)
11.Hatzenport
– Kobern (18 km)
12.
Kobern – Koblenz-Güls (12 km)
Example:
Cochem – Karden (14 km )
From
Cochem hikers can arrive at the Pinnerberg point (guest house) either by
chairlift or by walking., you go past the wild life park (guest house,
2 km) on a
little
path through the woods, past two view points (one with shelter hut), past
the
little chapel, and through the vineyard to the cross of peace. Turn and
descend
to Klotten (5 km). Beneath the castle the path continues through
vineyards
and down a small valley to the railway line. Walk along the left
hand
side, behind the purification plant, right through the underpass, onto
the pedestrian section of the B49, finally through the vineyard with the
sun dial up towards the street, follow this to the right to Pommern (11
km ). From here the path leads via the gold mountain of the Pommerner Mart
vineyard, go right here, then left through the woods up towards Karden
(14 km). From Karden you can take the boat or the train back to Cochem.
BEST
VIEWS FOR DISCOVERY AND ENJOYMENT
The
Moselle countryside also offers a well marked out network of hiking routes
with circular walks, hikes of greater distance and short walks via the
Moselle hill side paths to the right and left hand side of the river, through
sunny vineyards, romantic adjacent valleys and shady forest paths of the
surrounding higher plains, accompanied by historical and natural sights
of interest.
A
walk combines very pleasantly with a single or return boat trip. From the
middle
of April to October numerous tourist cruise boats are operating daily on
the
Moselle.
A
FEW EXAMPLES FOR LONG OR SHORT WALKS
-
From
the hotel to the castle via the 3 crosses. (45 minutes) Walk down the street in front of the hotel. At the baker’s
go up to the left to the church. Go right behind the church and follow
the road to the left. Now it will get a little steeper (just take it slowly
if you wish). You walk a little bit through the wood and arrive at
the top, rewarded for your efforts by the view from the view point of the
3 crosses over Cochem and the castle. After you’ve seen enough walk on
about another 10 minutes to the castle. You can combine your
walk wonderfully with a tour of the castle (tickets
at the reception) and afterwards you’ll be in the centre of Cochem in just
a few minutes.
-
From
the hotel through the garden of cloister Ebernach to Ernst (1 ½
hrs) Just by the hotel turn into the vineyard in order to cross onto the
B259 panorama road a little bit later in the direction of Cloister Ebernach.
(Be careful! You have to climb over the crash barrier and cross the road at a long drawn out curve). After this early obstacle you then experience
a comfortable walk in our neighbouring village of Ernst. The path runs
right through large vineyards parallel to the Moselle. Observe the busy
wine-growers at their work. Let yourself be carried along and your mind
wander. On arrival in Ernst, we recommend a glass of wine in one of the
cafes or wine tasting in a wine-grower’s cellar. Now you know the way back or just follow the route above again back to the hotel.
-
Through
the wild Endert (3.5 hrs)
Go by bus to cloister Maria Martental. Briefly tour the well known house
with cafeteria. Then enter into one of the most beautiful and most unspoilt
adjacent valleys to the Moselle. Follow the course of the Endert stream
(sometimes becoming a fast flowing river) and enjoy the beautiful countryside.
Watch out for game, which is in abundance in these forests. Amongst many
other former mills you will pass Goebel’s mill where you
can take a break to recharge your batteries. We are convinced that these
hours will prove to be some of the best of your holiday and after about 3.5 hrs you will be back on the ground in Cochem.
-
From
the hotel to Ediger-Eller (around 3 hours)
The path is steep up to the “Sehler Huette” but it is worth it. Enjoy the
wonderful view of Cochem and the Moselle valley. Walk past the old Sehler sports grounds in the direction of the L98. On arriving at the resting
place there cross over the road and enter into the Ellerbach valley. The
wonderful route will lead you past numerous view points in the direction of Ediger-Eller. Pass the Kaiser-Wilhelm-Tunnel (for many decades the longest
railway tunnel in Germany) and see the trains running on the
Moselle stretch to Koblenz-Trier-Luxembourg-Metz-Paris. In Ediger you’ll have the opportunity to have a glass of wine and have a look around
one of the most beautiful villages along the Moselle. Take the train to
Cochem and don’t be amazed as, thanks to that tunnel, you’ll be back
in just a few minutes.
For
Trekking fans our Manager, himself a self-confessed enthusiastic fan, has
a
few more suggestions in store, but we don’t want to publish them here,
so that they stay as “secret tips” and of course because they aren’t suitable
for everyone.
-
!!
Here is a super tip: Travel with the 8 am train to Koblenz. From Koblenz
take the ship (KD) to Boppard on the Rhine. From Boppard take the cable
car to Buchholz. From Buchholz walk down the Erbach gorge (wonderful walk
apprx. 4-5 hrs including breaks, there are mills with restaurants on the
way) to Brodenbach. From Brodenbach its around 2.5 km on foot to Löf
or by bus to the bridge and then by foot over the bridge to Löf and
finally with the train back to Cochem.
A
FEW MORE TIPS FROM MY OWN EXPERIENCE
Because
there are so many hiking trails in our area, it can therefore mean that
you
won’t come across anyone for hours on end (even in the high season),
please
tell us which trail you intend to take. Should anything happen en route,
which we naturally hope never will, at least we will have a rough idea
of where
you
are.
Wear
comfortable and firm shoes. The paths are well trodden but for the most
part
not asphalted. They often lead through unspoilt countryside, so it isn’t
advisable to go walking up hill and down dale in everyday street shoes.
If
you plan to hike a long distance, take something to eat and drink with
you,
there
are lots of possibilities to stop off en route, but not everywhere!
And
when you finish off your day in the bar after your long or short walk and
look
out of the window and maybe see this view:
You
will undoubtedly think:
"That
was a wonderful day"
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