Moselsteig Stage 09: Neumagen-Dhron – Kesten/Osann-Monzel

The information board on the former railway embankment of the Moselle railway (there is even a remaining rail here) near the Moselle riverbank marks the start of this Moselsteig stage. From here, you first follow the towpath downstream towards the bridge. You hike directly along the riverbank – you won't get this close to the Moselle on any other section of the entire Moselsteig! On the sidewalk next to the road, you then cross the bridge to the other side of the Moselle. In the Zweibach valley, the path leads steeply uphill through vineyards, past meadows and fruit trees. On the way, a view into the valley shows you again the Moselle and the Neumagen harbor, where you might also see the Roman wine ship.

The ascent continues now through terrain shaped by meadows, hedges, and scattered groups of trees. Once you reach the open height, you have a wonderful view towards the south, especially over the distance covered so far. A path leads along the access road to a quarry. At the highest point is a starting point for hang gliders and paragliders. The spot allows a first view of the Moselle loop at Piesport. Soon the trail leads into the beautiful mixed forest and you reach the Weißlei shelter and barbecue hut located on the hillside edge. The view from here into the Moselle valley is overwhelming! In the wide circle of the Moselle loop lie nestled in the vineyard landscape Piesport, Minheim, Neumagen-Dhron, and Trittenheim. Clearly visible are the slowly rising glide slope and the terrace areas on the Hunsrück side. The Moselle Loreley on the rocky river bend is also already visible from here.

The Moselsteig now leads steeply downhill through the forest past the Spoar Chapel into the vineyards. At the bottom of a flight of stairs, the access path to Piesport branches off – you can reach the Moselle Loreley via it as well. This alternative and the Moselsteig later meet again. The main path continues through the vineyards. After crossing a road, you traverse on a mostly level path the home of the Piesporter Goldtröpfchen wine and always have the river and surrounding landscape in view. A short ascent brings you to the panorama road, where on a rock above stands a Donatus monument commemorating the Roman past of the Moselle region. From here, a short detour to the Moselle Loreley or down to the valley to Minheim and Piesport is also possible.

After crossing the saddle, where the Moselsteig cuts off the Minheim river loop, the view changes: Piesport is no longer in sight, now it is Wintrich on the opposite side of the Moselle with its dam, which first catches the eye. On the highest vineyard path, you walk between the forest edge and still cultivated or already fallow vineyards towards the stage towns of Kesten and Osann-Monzel. Before the path turns into a side valley and continues through the forest, you should let your gaze wander once more over the Moselle valley: The river lies stretched out below, framed by vineyards reaching close to the water. In the distance, you can already make out the Brauneberg, which rests next to the Moselle like an inverted ship’s hull. In the forest, the path now goes downhill towards the Roman Sauerbrunnen (mineral spring). There, you can refresh your perhaps tired feet in a water treading facility and use one of many rest options for a relaxing break. From here, the access path to the stage destination Kesten also branches off; it leads through the vineyards all the way down into the town on the Moselle.

For the stage destination Osann-Monzel, the path rises again. First in the valley, later through a piece of forest and back into the vineyards. Sometimes it goes steeply uphill next to the rows of vines before the Moselsteig reaches the forest edge. In the forest, you continue uphill. Even when the path leaves the forest again, the final height is not yet fully reached. Only at the forest edge can you enjoy the view into the side valley and later again onto the Moselle on a mostly level path. The descent to Monzel leads over a meadow path that always offers a view of the town and the wide vineyard landscape behind it. Not much longer, then you pass the outskirts and enter the town. The stage ends at St. Nikolaus church. From here, a direct access path to Kesten (0.9 km) also leads off.

• sturdy footwear
• weather-appropriate, practical hiking clothing
• packed lunch

Starting point: Neumagen-Dhron via B 53

Destination: Kesten and Osann-Monzel can be reached via L 47, K 53 and K 134, e.g. from the A 1 (AS Salmtal)

Neumagen-Dhron: large parking lot on the Moselle riverbank near Stella Noviomagi

Osann-Monzel: small parking lot in Moselstraße directly on the Moselsteig

Kesten: Moselstraße at the bus stop (0.9 km access path to the Moselsteig)

You can reach the stage towns Neumagen-Dhron (Realschule plus stop) and Kesten (stop K 134) by bus line 332.

To get to Osann-Monzel, it is best to take the bus to Kesten and then walk about 2.5 km uphill to Osann-Monzel.

There are regular connections. Please note that during school holidays in Rhineland-Palatinate / Saarland, on weekends, and on public holidays, there may be reductions in frequency! Please check the current daily timetables on the website of the Verkehrsverbund Region Trier (VRT):

www.vrt-info.de

"Moselsteig" - Official Moselsteig hiking guide by ideemedia, €14.95

Authors: Ulrike Poller, Wolfgang Todt, Publisher: ideemedia, 300 pages with almost 300 pictures, elevation profiles, QR codes and GPS tracks, format 11.5 x 23 cm, ISBN: 978-3-942779-21-0, €14.95

"Official Moselsteig Hiking Maps" in pocket format:

The entire route is divided into 3 maps:

Leisure map Moselsteig - Map 1: Perl - Trier (Stages 1 - 4), ISBN: 978-3-89637-419-6

Leisure map Moselsteig - Map 2: Trier - Zell (Moselle) (Stages 5 -14), ISBN: 978-3-89637-420-2

Leisure map Moselsteig - Map 3: Zell (Moselle) - Koblenz (Stages 15 - 24), ISBN: 978-3-89637-421-9

Single map: €5.90

Maps in 3-set: €14.50 (ISBN: 978-3-89637422-6)

"Premium Set"

Premium Set, consisting of an official hiking guide including a 3-map set, Publisher: ideemedia, ISBN: 978-3-942779-24-1, €26.95

The hiking guides and maps are available in bookshops or on the website https://www.visitmosel.de/wandern/service-infos-tipps under the "Brochure order" section. 

Leisure map Moselsteig - Map 2: Trier - Zell (Moselle) (Stages 5 -14), ISBN: 978-3-89637-420-2

Mosellandtouristik GmbH

Kordelweg 1, 54470 Bernkastel-Kues; Phone: +49 (0)6531/97330

www.moselsteig.de

Tourist Information Bernkastel-Kues

Gestade 6, 54470 Bernkastel-Kues; Phone: +49 (0)6531/500190

www.bernkastel.de

Tourist Information Wittlich City and Country

Marktplatz 5, 54516 Wittlich; Phone: +49 (0)6571/4086

www.moseleifel.de