From Bernkastel-Kues to Traben-Trarbach
- start: Old town of Bernkastel-Kues
- destination: Traben-Trarbach
- medium
- 6,15 km
- 2 hours 2 minutes
- 295 m
- 402 m
- 101 m
- 20 / 100
- 60 / 100
From city to city, this famous and popular hike takes you across the mountains of the river Moselle. Guests are happy to combine the hike with a Moselle boat trip and thus save themselves the trip back (excursion boats run from Easter to the end of October).
So close and yet so different: the cities of Bernkastel-Kues and Traben-Trarbach are connected by the Moselle and separated by the mountain. Bernkastel-Kues is known for its half-timbered houses, the wine festival and its famous vineyars. Traben-Trarbach is the art nouveau city par excellence, with underworlds and a Buddha museum. The way is signposted with the scallop of the Mosel-Camino.
Insights into the hiking tour:
The route along the Moselle from Bernkastel-Kues to Traben-Trarbach is about 25 kilometres. If you walk over the Moselle mountains it's only about 6.5 kilometres. The way on the "Mosel-Camino" between the two cities is not only very popular because of the short distance, guests like to combine the hike with a boat trip and thus save themselves the way back (check departure times beforehand). Sometimes there is a very steep ascent through the vineyards. Therefore the motto is: walk slowly!
General information
Directions
The hike from city to city begins in the old town of Bernkastel. Through the "Graacherstraße" and the "Graacher Tor" the way leads you into the vineyards and past the most famous of all vineyards, the "Bernkasteler Doctor"- vineyard. The well-known legend says that Elector Boemund II became healthy at the castle Landshut at the Bernkasteler wine. Since then this vineyard bears the name and legend "Bernkasteler Doctor". The "Graacher Tor" is the oldest and only remaining town gate. Today the "Graacher Tor" still houses a local history museum. You walk uphill over cobblestones, accompanied by vineyards and vineyard walls, in which you can discover the typical flora and fauna of the heat-storing walls. Shortly before the Jewish cemetery, the path branches off to the right to the "Waldschenke mit Herz" hiking restaurant, a popular place to stop for refreshments. The trail continues through the forest to the watershed between Bernkastel and Traben-Trarbach. You have reached the highest point of the hike and a rest area invites you to take a break. You continue through the underpass of the B50 new line, which is currently under construction. Immediately after the underpass you turn left and then right again. Then the descent into the Moselle valley begins, which leads you through a varied forest landscape. Numerous signposts along the route refer to the many hiking variants, such as the "Goetheweg", the "Jakobsweg" or the "Traben-Trarbacher Runde". As you leave the forest, you have a view of the vineyards of the Wildbach Valley and the ruins of Grevenburg Castle. Many of the vineyards have been abandoned in recent years due to difficult management. The path leads you along a Kerbtälchen valley from orchard meadows into the valley to Traben-Trarbach. Passing the bridge gate built in 1898/99 you reach the city centre of Traben-Trarbach.We recommend the return trip to Bernkastel-Kues by boat.
Safety Guidelines
No special safety instructions.
Equipment
Solid shoes are recommended
Tip
For refreshments, make a stop at the hiking restaurant "Waldschenke mit Herz".
Getting there
Parking
Bernkastel-Kues: Parking on the Mosel parking lot on the Bernkasteler and Kueser side. In the winter months parking is free of charge, from 1 April to 31 December. Traben-Trarbach: Parking at the "Moselweinstraße" under the Mosel bridge in Trarbach
Public transit
Bernkastel-Kues: Taxi Edringer: (0049) 6531 - 8149, Taxi Priwitzer: (0049) 6531 - 96970, Taxi Reitz: (0049) 6531 - 6455
Traben-Trarbach: Taxi Erdringer: (0049) 6541 - 5612, Taxi Hilgers: (0049) 6541 - 9425
Literature
Further information: https://en.bernkastel.de/visitor-information/order-brochures
Maps
WanderGuide - Hiking guide for the Ferienland Bernkastel-Kues (in German).
Additional Information
Ferienland Bernkastel-Kues
Gestade 6
54470 Bernkastel-Kues
Phone (0049) 6531/50019-0
Pavings
- Street (10%)
- Asphalt Coating (15%)
- Crushed Rock (22%)
- Hiking Trail (37%)
- Path (13%)
- Unknown (3%)
Weather
This tour is presented by: Ferienland Bernkastel-Kues, Author: Lisa Willems