Family-friendly hiking route around Landshut Castle Bernkastel-Kues

From the starting point at the bridgehead, follow the street "Gestade" upstream along the Moselle. Soon you reach Schlossweg, which you turn left onto, leaving the bustle of Bernkastel behind. The Schlossweg immediately goes steeply uphill. After the climb through the vineyards, the St. Anna Chapel is the first destination of the circular route. Via the winding Stations of the Cross path, you reach the viewpoint in front of the chapel facade with the large mosaic. A look back into the Moselle valley towards Bernkastel shows the elevation gained so far.

From the chapel, the circular route partially follows the Moselsteig. It goes steeply uphill through the forest. Above a vineyard, the view opens again onto the valley and the river. Then follows a path section through a gorge deeply cut into the rock, where the rocks tower high and come close to the path.

The path continues winding uphill. Large trees accompany the way.

At the next junction, the Moselsteig leaves the circular route downhill to the right. The next destination is Wilhelmshöhe, reached via the forest path leading uphill to the left. The viewpoint is a bit off the path but definitely worth the detour. The view from the projecting rock extends from Brauneberg to Bernkastel. An ideal place for a rest.

The incline on the next section is no longer so steep, and shortly before the forest edge, the path reaches a junction where the Moselsteig approach trail points further towards Olymp. The circular route turns left at a right angle and leads without significant elevation change to the mountain called "Olymp". The rest opportunities with views of Bernkastel should be used again before the descent towards the castle. At 415 m, the Olymp is one of the highest mountains close to the Moselle valley and the highest point of the circular route. Accordingly, the view is impressive.

Together with the Moselsteig approach trail marking, it now goes steeply downhill via path and forest road towards Landshut Castle. The path through the forest shows that this is an old connection between the Moselle valley and the Hunsrück.

Shortly after the building of the former youth hostel, you reach the ruin of Landshut Castle.

The newly renovated site offers many corners and nooks to be discovered. At the same time, there is an opportunity to stop at the castle gastronomy.

The stairway path down through the vineyards to Bernkastel is marked as Moselsteig and leads directly into Bernkastel's "good parlor," the marketplace with the historic half-timbered houses. The start/finish point at the bridge is now only a few steps away again towards the Moselle/bridge.

As a conclusion to the route, you can take a boat sightseeing cruise that starts directly from the docks at the Moselle riverside parking lot.

Bernkastel-Kues is accessible via the B 53.

Parking lot at the Moselle riverbank in the Bernkastel district (paid)