Moselsteig Detour: Rocks, Barrels, Half-Timbered Houses

Where the Moselle Valley runs in a dead straight line from south to north and you have a magnificent panoramic view of the former Marienburg monastery complex to the south and the steeply rising Calmont to the north, lies the wine village of Sankt Aldegund in the Zeller Land vacation region. From the historic town center, the “Felsen.Fässer.Fachwerk” premium trail leads you to a rock formation above the St. Aldegund weir and lock. Here, at the Kehr-Heiligenhäuschen rest area, you can enjoy a sweeping view of the Moselle landscape and the Hunsrück hills. During a short break, you can also watch the lock operation for Moselle riverboat traffic and the passing trains from here. The trail continues past the Goldkaul Cave, where attempts were made to mine copper ore in the 19th century. The Calmontblick offers an impressive view of Europe’s steepest vineyard; you can reach it from the main trail via a side path of about 300 meters in the direction of Bremm. Back on the main trail, past the Josefshöhe, you’ll hike above the prestigious Sankt Aldegunder Palmberg terraces—on an extremely steep slope—through one of the largest wild boxwood groves on the Moselle. You’ll need sturdy shoes for the Palmberg Trail, which runs along the steep slope. In the valley, at the end of the Palmberg Trail, you can hike directly to the Raulwing-Platz viewpoint or turn onto the 4-km-long additional loop—which also leads through nature, woods, and fields to Raulwing-Platz. From here, you’ll be treated to a spectacular view of the landscape, the wine-growing village of Sankt Aldegund with its numerous half-timbered houses, and the neighboring Moselle communities of Bremm, Bullay, Alf, and Neef. From Raulwing-Platz, the trail leads back down into the Moselle Valley and offers another highlight of the tour: the Romanesque Old Church, dating from 1144.

Your safety is our top priority. By preparing well and following the safety guidelines below, you’ll create the best conditions for a safe outdoor experience.

Stay Hydrated

Bring plenty of drinking water and drink regularly. Especially during hikes and bike rides along the Moselle, the heat can be intense in the summer.

Ticks

Check your body thoroughly after your trip and use a suitable insect repellent if necessary.

Oak processionary moth

Avoid contact with oak processionary moth caterpillars and their webs. The fine stinging hairs can cause skin irritation and allergic reactions.

Check the Weather

Check the current weather forecast before starting your hike or bike ride. In case of thunderstorms, heavy rain, or strong winds, you should postpone the trip or end it in a timely manner.

Stay on the marked trails

Stay on the marked hiking and biking trails. This helps protect nature and yourself, and avoids unnecessary risks.

Forest Fire Risk

Pay special attention to the current risk of wildfires, especially during the summer months. Avoid open fires and smoking in the forest and in areas with dry vegetation.

Dogs

Please keep dogs on a leash whenever possible and be considerate of wildlife, grazing animals, and other visitors.

Emergency

In an emergency, you can reach emergency services throughout Europe by dialing 112. Provide your location as precisely as possible and, if possible, use your cell phone’s location feature.

Sturdy Footwear

Wear sturdy, non-slip footwear on hiking trails. Nature trails, slate paths, and steep vineyard trails can be slippery, especially after rain.

Headwear

Wear a hat in warm weather. There are very few shaded areas, especially on the open trails through the vineyards.

Sun protection

Apply plenty of sunscreen with an appropriate SPF and protect yourself from intense sunlight.

www.felsen-faesser-fachwerk.de

A small chapel serving as the final resting place of a great art collector: Peter Ludwig’s grave in the mountain chapel of St. Aldegund

The premium hiking trail “Felsen.Fässer.Fachwerk.” leads hikers to an ancient Celtic sacred site above Sankt Aldegund. There, in 1144, a small Christian chapel was built in honor of the Merovingian saint Aldegundis. Now known as the Old Church, the chapel stands in the middle of a garden that was once a cemetery. A few old grave crosses still serve as reminders of that time. In 1872, a new parish church was built on the banks of the Moselle, and the condition of the small mountain chapel was so poor at the time that the diocesan authorities ordered the parish to demolish the nave. Fortunately, the parish lacked the funds to do so; they sold part of the furnishings and made a makeshift repair to the roof. After 1948, the local Marian Society took charge of the old little church, repaired the roof, installed new windows, and began searching for the sold furnishings. The wrought-iron pulpit from 1663 was acquired through an art dealer in Cologne. The sandstone burial altar by Master Hans-Ruprecht Hoffmann from 1602, commissioned for the electoral bailiff Nicolaus Rultz, was discovered in the collection of Peter and Irene Ludwig, a married couple of collectors from Aachen. At first, the couple did not want to sell the artwork, but after visiting the Bergkapelle, they decided not only to donate the tomb altar but also to financially support the restoration work. In return, they requested a burial plot associated with the church. Thus, Peter Ludwig found his final resting place in Sankt Aldegund on July 30, 1996, and Irene Ludwig on December 4, 2010.

Peter Ludwig, together with his wife Irene, had amassed thousands of valuable works of art. Since 1957, the couple—who were well-to-do by birth—had explicitly collected for the public; as a result, their donations and permanent loans can be seen in over twenty museums. The “Ludwig Museums” and institutions bearing the Ludwig name either stem from initiatives by the couple or have been significantly shaped by their donated artworks, for example in Cologne, Oberhausen, Aachen, Koblenz, Saarlouis, Bamberg, Basel, Budapest, Vienna, St. Petersburg, and Beijing.

In stark contrast to these magnificent monuments that Peter and Irene Ludwig erected for themselves during their lifetimes, their final resting place in the small burial chapel is devoid of any sense of patronage. The Senheim sculptor Christof Anders was commissioned to create a simple, unadorned tomb, one in which even the artist’s own personality largely takes a back seat. The burial site can be viewed from the outside, but anyone wishing to visit the small chapel from the inside must obtain the key (from the von Essen family, Auf der Teusch 4).

A 48, Wittlich-Mitte exit; take the B 49 toward Alf and continue on to Sankt Aldegund

A 48, take the Kaisersesch exit, take the L 98 to Cochem, then continue on the B 49 along the Moselle to Sankt Aldegund

A 61, take the Emmelshausen exit; take the B 327 toward Kastellaun; continue to the Blümlingshof exit, then take the B 421 to Zell (Mosel); take the B 53 along the Moselle to Sankt Aldegund

Parking is available along the banks of the Moselle and near the bus stop on Am Moselstausee Street.

Bus routes 710 and 711 (Bullay – Cochem, Sankt Aldegund Römerstraße stop)

For more information, visit: www.vrminfo.de.

"Seitensprünge Volume 2" — 17 Premium Circular Hikes from Bernkastel-Kues to Koblenz by ideemedia

Authors: Ulrike Poller, Wolfgang Todt; Publisher: ideemedia; 160 pages; Format: 11.0 x 16.4 cm; ISBN: 978-3-942779-60-9; €12.95

Moselsteig Recreation Map - Map 3: Zell (Mosel) - Koblenz (Stages 15–24), ISBN: 978-3-89637-421-9

Disclaimer

All trails in the Zeller Land region are carefully maintained. However, trail conditions, closures, or weather conditions may change at short notice. Use of the hiking and biking trails is at your own risk. Please check the current conditions before starting your tour and choose a route that matches your personal fitness level and experience.

Mosellandtouristik GmbH

Kordelweg 1, 54470 Bernkastel-Kues; Phone: 06531/97330

www.moselsteig.de

Zeller Land Tourismus GmbH, Tourist Information

Balduinstraße 44, 56856 Zell (Mosel); 06542/96220

www.zellerland.de