Moselle Heights Cycle Route - The Vineyard Circuit

We start the route at the Siebenborn Monastery in Maring-Noviand. There is parking available at the sports field there. First, we cross the bridge over the Lieserbach and the "Maare-Mosel Cycle Route" and cycle to the right past the former Siebenborn Monastery. Immediately in the following right curve, we turn left into the fields and vineyards and follow the farm road steadily uphill. From afar, the first intermediate destination can be seen, the Paulskirche (St. Paul's Church) amidst the vineyards. Until the 16th century, it was the religious center of fourteen villages and a much-visited pilgrimage site. At its feet lies a former glacial valley of the Moselle (meaning that in ancient times the Moselle flowed along there before molding a different riverbed further south). From the Paulskirche, we let the bikes roll down to the edge of the village of Lieser, then immediately cycle back up through the vineyards towards Bernkastel-Kues. Those who wish may take a short detour to the "Heldensicht," the "Most Beautiful Wine View 2020." Even without the detour, this section of the route to the district of Kues offers splendid views over the "sea of vines" of the Moselle. In the old heart of the Kues district, there are romantic alleys with old winemakers' houses built in natural slate style; towards the Moselle, the houses become more stately. We cross the Moselle bridge to the much-visited old town of Bernkastel. The medieval marketplace and the old town with its numerous timber-framed buildings attract many visitors. From the Graacher Gate, the only preserved city gate, the route climbs steeply into the vineyards. Passing the St. Joseph chapel and various stations of the theme trail "Lizard Loves Riesling," the route leads through the "Badstube" vineyard up to a small skywalk on the topmost Wingertsweg. It continues there, then the steep section to the Bernkastel Jewish cemetery and further to the Graach district "Schäferei." Arriving there, we follow the "Panoramastraße" to the left and shortly follow the signs to the hiking car park "Auf'm Hahn." Then, however, we turn again onto a vineyard path leading to the highest vineyards. Through the vineyard area "Graacher Himmelreich," we cycle towards Zeltingen-Rachtig and enjoy a particularly scenic section. Above the twin community of Zeltingen-Rachtig, a break at the "Sortengarten" is recommended, where many native shrubs and useful woods, as well as Mediterranean and exotic bushes and trees, have been planted on a former vineyard area. The route continues through Zeltingen-Rachtig and Erdener vineyard areas, passing under the "Hochmoselbrücke," at mid-slope height on the "Panorama bike route" to the street feeder of the "Hochmoselbrücke." We follow the feeder towards the Moselle and cross the Moselle bridge at the roundabout between the wine villages of Erden and Lösnich. On the other side of the Moselle, we cycle on the bike path running parallel to the B 53 towards Ürzig. Along the way, we pass the Roman press house of Erden and the Ürzig rock formations. At the entrance to Ürzig, the "Mönchshof" winery is still known by older visitors as the filming location of the TV series "Moselbrück" broadcast in the 1970s. Behind Ürzig, the route passes again under the "Hochmoselbrücke" and continues to the Machern Monastery. The former Cistercian monastery houses a toy and icon museum as well as various restaurants. From the Moselle bridge of Zeltingen-Rachtig, the route continues to the dam and then into the Bernkastel district Wehlen, with the only suspension bridge spanning the Moselle. From Wehlen, we cycle along the Moselle shore back to Kues. In Kues, visits to the Cusanusstift with its wine museum and vinotheque, the vintage car museum, or the Cusanus birthplace are worthwhile. Along the Kues Moselle shore, we cycle upstream to the Kues harbor and campsite. From there, we go over meadowland and the shore path to the wine village of Lieser. We stay on the cycle path between the flood dam and the Moselle shore and take a look at the impressive Lieser Castle, which today houses a luxury hotel. Just before the confluence of the Lieserbach into the Moselle, the "Maare-Mosel Cycle Route" branches off (under a road bridge with parking available). This cycle route on a former railway track takes us back through the Lieser valley to the starting point at Siebenborn Monastery in Maring-Noviand.

Please note that the route is not signposted.

E-bike recommended

For a break, stop in one of the wine villages and enjoy a glass of Moselle wine.

Arrival in Bernkastel-Kues

Parking is available in Bernkastel-Kues on both banks of the Moselle

 www.vrt-info.de, www.bahn.de 

Bernkastel-Kues: Taxi Edringer: 06531 - 8149, Taxi Priwitzer: 06531 - 96970, Taxi Reitz: 06531 - 6455

A large selection of cycle paths in the Bernkastel-Kues holiday region can be found in "aufgestattelt". This brochure is available at all tourist information offices in the holiday region. Also online: aufgestattelt and Cycle Routes

aufgestattelt - the cycling guide in the Bernkastel-Kues holiday region. With description and map.

Holiday Region Bernkastel-Kues
Gestade 6 
54470 Bernkastel-Kues 
Tel. 06531/50019-0
www.bernkastel.de

info@bernkastel.de