Moselsteig Stage 11: Bernkastel-Kues - Ürzig

The marketplace of Bernkastel is the first highlight right at the start of this 11th stage: typical Moselle half-timbered buildings around the entire square! The access path from the bus station and from the district of Kues also leads into the main path towards Ürzig at the marketplace. The path goes through the pedestrian zone towards the edge of town. Hard to imagine that a busy federal road once ran through these narrow streets. After a few meters in the Kallenfelstal, the houses stand more scattered, offering a view of the world-famous Doctor Vineyard. After leaving the last house behind, the path continues steeply upwards – now as a trail through the forest. The distance to the stream and the steepness of the path vary, but the path continues to climb. You pass a wooden footbridge, then the Moselsteig leaves the streambed and continues steeply upwards through a forest dominated mostly by oak trees. After a short flat section, it becomes really steep again at the end of the ascent!

At the forest edge, you reach the high plateau and just a few steps later the Maria Zill viewpoint at the hillside edge. At about 400 m above sea level, it is one of the highest and most comprehensive viewpoints along the Moselsteig. Bernkastel-Kues lies deep down in the valley; from here you can also see the sanatoriums on the Kues plateau from a bird’s eye perspective. The view downstream along the Moselle is also beautiful: Graach, Wehlen, and Zeltingen don’t seem far away. The long-distance view reaches to the heights of the Eifel and through some side valleys into the Wittlich Basin.

Along the hillside edge and the meadow on the high plateau, you reach the Maria Zill shelter. From here the Moselsteig continues as a trail through the low oak forest. The trail briefly becomes wider before crossing a clearing and reaching the access road to the Graach Sheepfold. Via this path, you quickly get to the first houses of the small settlement on the heights. Here a side path branches off that leads to Graach and Wehlen. The onward path towards Zeltingen now climbs steeply through the forest. Once it reaches the forest edge and thus the highest point, the Moselsteig descends again. At a forest-surrounded meadow, you get a surprising view towards the Eifel heights again. The path stays in the forest and except for a short climb, it goes downhill for a long stretch. The forest edge and the hillside edge are reached shortly afterwards, along with vineyards again. A side path from the Graach Sheepfold meets the Moselsteig here. A section now follows along the forest edge and vineyards or vineyard fallows – the natural paths and the wonderful view into the Moselle valley give it special appeal.

After a detour through the forest, the path leads through a weekend cottage area. The Moselsteig follows the hillside edge for quite a while, and in between there is the possibility to descend to Wehlen via the marked Moselsteig side path. The Moselsteig itself stays a bit higher and you reach a resting area at the hillside edge. Enjoy the view from here; it is fantastic! The entire section between Bernkastel and Zeltingen lies at your feet.

Soon after, the Moselsteig becomes a trail again, which leaves the hillside edge and thus the section with the magnificent views at the Engelter cross. Via a steep historic path you reach the Zeltingen variety garden. Here you can admire both native and exotic plants! From the pavilion there, you have a beautiful view of the next waypoint Zeltingen. Across the variety garden and via a vineyard path, you reach the eastern edge of town, where later the side path to the district of Rachtig branches off. At the bridgehead you find the way to the nearby bus stop.

The Moselsteig continues over the bridge, briefly accompanies the road, and reaches the Machern monastery. Behind the monastery you now climb mainly through former fallow vineyard areas on the hillside. At halfway up, the path maintains this height for quite a stretch before reaching the forest edge along a path that sometimes runs as a hollow way. The following forest path leads the hikers over the landscape tunnel to the Hochmosel bridge. Anyone wanting to take a look from above at the impressive structure should take a few meters right from the path. From the hill above the tunnel entrance, the view of the Hochmosel bridge is spectacular. Back on the Moselsteig, you walk on a narrow path through dense mixed forest. After a short section on a wider forest road, the Moselsteig reaches a crossroads. Here the hillside edge is reached again, which is now followed to the left on a trail. Take another look back now: the route you have walked so far can be very well overlooked from here!

In the forest you continue to a water reservoir. From here, it goes steeply downhill into a gorge and over a footbridge and stairways. The last section to Ürzig climbs very steeply again through a hollow way. Near the last hairpin bend of the L 56, you have reached the stage destination Ürzig. A steep side path with some stairs leads from here down to the lower part of Ürzig, where you will also find the bus stop at the Moselle shore.

• sturdy footwear
• weather-appropriate, functional hiking clothing
• provisions in a backpack

The evening mood in the area of the Zeltingen variety garden is especially beautiful when the autumn foliage of the vineyards bathes the slopes in golden light.

Please note: There is no bus service in Ürzig on weekends!

Start point: Bernkastel-Kues via the B 53

Endpoint Ürzig: A 1, AS Wittlich-Mitte, B 50 towards the center, B 49 towards Cochem, continuing on L 55 to Ürzig

Bernkastel-Kues: large car park on the Moselle shore (partly subject to fees)

Ürzig: small car park directly at the start point at the intersection of Bergstraße/Römerstraße, large car park on the B 53 on the Moselle shore, from there 0.8 km access path to the start point

Zeltingen-Rachtig: car park on the Moselle shore (0.2 km access path to the Moselle bridge)

You can reach the stage towns Bernkastel-Kues (Forum stop) and Ürzig (Monument stop) by bus line 361. (Walking distance to the Moselle shore in Ürzig approx. 12 minutes)

Connections are irregular. Please note that during school holidays in Rhineland-Palatinate / Saarland, at weekends, and on public holidays, there may be service restrictions! Please check the current daily timetables on the website of the Trier Region Transport Association (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 official hiking guide including 3-map set, Publisher: ideemedia, ISBN: 978-3-942779-24-1, 26.95 €

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

Moselsteig leisure map - 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 Ferienland Bernkastel-Kues

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

www.bernkastel.de