Bernkasteler Schweiz - Local hiking trail Bernkastel-Kues

The hiking trail into the Bernkasteler Schweiz starts at the tourist information Mosel Guests Center. Turning right over Karlsbader Platz, you pass through the medieval old town and the elongated Römerstraße into the so-called suburb. After walking to the end of Burgstraße, you cross the traffic light intersection at the Burgbergtunnel (555m). The trail continues on the other side of the street on paths and trails into the Tiefenbach valley. Parallel to the federal road B50 towards Longkamp, but protected by the forest, you walk through the valley. The forest path leads after about 2 km past the waterfall. At this point, the Tiefenbach is forced to cut through a massive mountain overhang and plunge down in the roaring waterfall. Foam splashes against the hard rock and the water continues to flow restlessly excitedly through the forest. Steep above the waterfall rises the Tinkeler Heiligenhäuschen on a rocky spike. Scattered stones and field blocks in the forest have always been called Hinkelsteine. In folk language, the rock in the Tiefenbach valley was called "det Hinkel", for convenience the article disappeared and so Hinkel became Thinkel, later Tinkel. A few meters behind the chapel, take the path on the right. Following the narrow serpentine trail, the stream bed is left for a short time to be seen again at the end of the winding route. The hiking trail continues uphill along a shady path next to federal road 50, an important connection between Bernkastel-Kues and the Hunsrück. After another 2 km of hiking, the forest path ends at the so-called "Bärenhalde". The road is crossed left and leads to a forest trail on the opposite side of the street. This path through the so-called Krauwald offers a view of the "Golden Cross", surrounded by extensive oak forests. This wooden cross with gilded beam ends stands on a shale rock. According to the story, a carpenter from Bernkastel, who had to give up his profession due to age, made this large cross. It was probably the fulfillment of a promise made in difficult times.  

The trail continues through the forest, which after a hairpin bend leads on a narrow forest path to Bresgensruh. From this right turn, the forest opens up the view to a meadow landscape. Over a small bridge to the right, the beautiful forest path runs along green meadows and lush fields until signposts indicate to follow the path to the right. From this path junction, the forest offers a wide, dreamy view into the Eifel and to the Hardtkopf. Take some time at this place to absorb peace and nature, balance and relaxation.  Following the path to the right, continue along wide meadows towards Maiweg.  After another right turn, the path runs now again slightly winding through the forest back towards Bärenhalde. At the parking lot there, the street is crossed again and at the junction of the forest trail bends back into the Tiefenbach valley. The cool gorge along this stream is the "Bernkasteler Schweiz". The old district Bernkastel was once built at the mouth of the stream. Most of the houses stand on the stony debris that the stream carried to the mouth. Following the stream bed and the ensuing switchbacks, you reach the path of the outbound route again toward the Burgbergtunnel and the Römerstraße. The Tiefenbach still flows under the town today and finally flows into the Moselle.

www.bernkastel.de