Moselle Trail Stage 03: Nittel – Konz
- start: Nittel: Station directly on B 419 (intersection of Uferstraße/Wine Street)
- destination: Konz: Konz main station in Bahnhofstraße
- difficult
- 22,49 km
- 6 hours 30 minutes
- 570 m
- 340 m
- 130 m
- 80 / 100
- 80 / 100
Rocks and fields between Saar and Moselle.
Steep rock walls and wide fields characterize this stage. Shortly after leaving the winemaking community of Nittel, the hiker is rewarded with a breathtaking view over the Moselle valley and impressive limestone rocks. This cliff, created 210 million years ago by the Triassic sea, reveals a piece of earth history through its visible sediment layers. Along these rocks, the Moselle trail leads variedly through the Nittel rock nature reserve. On a detour to the orchid meadow, the rare plants can be admired in their natural environment. Steep paths through the forest lead finally along stations of the way of the cross down into the town of Konz. With attractions like the folklore and open-air museum Roscheider Hof, the town at the Saar estuary invites you to a pleasant stopover.
General information
Directions
The access path marking guides you from the stage starting point at Nittel train station along the wine road through the town upwards to Im Blümchen street. From here, the path leads over quiet residential streets to the outskirts. After crossing the street, you are already directly in the vineyards, which accompany you on a gently ascending path to the foot of the Nittel rocks. With its adjacent steep vineyard terraces and the Mediterranean climate, the Nittel rock provides a special habitat for a variety of orchid and animal species, such as rare bats or endangered reptiles. The dolomite rock with a height of 20 m and almost 1 km length is unique in the entire Moselle valley. The Nittel rock is therefore considered a highlight of biological diversity (https://www.lebendige-moselweinberge.de/leuchtpunkte.html). The highlight is signposted on site. You can access further information via a QR code. The following link https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lMjSOZG2tzw shows you a great video about the diversity of the Nittel rock.
On this section, there are some sculptures of the sculpture trail to discover. Most artworks are carved out of the limestone typical for the Upper Moselle. The path now continues along limestone rocks. Let your gaze wander upwards to the impressive rocks and also down into the Moselle valley! Beside a vineyard, the path goes steeply downwards, then leads with a moderate ascent and consistently beautiful views into the Moselle valley to the entrance of the Nittel rock path. Then a small challenge awaits you, which is worth it: Good footwear and surefootedness are required on the following section, as the path always runs close to the edge of the slope – first still steeply upwards, then somewhat flatter, but always with fantastic views of Nittel and the Moselle! The Moselle trail leaves the Nittel rock path on an open meadow slope. Use the opportunity here to look at the river once again!
After a short, steep ascent, you reach the plateau and thus the landscape impression changes completely compared to the previously hiked section. The view stretches far over intensively farmed fields. The Moselle trail now leads over field and meadow paths, sometimes completely exposed, sometimes protected by a windbreak hedge, through the landscape shaped by arable farming. After a few changes of direction and several ups and downs, the path reaches the forest edge after an ascent. The bench set up there offers you another good opportunity to enjoy the distant view towards Luxembourg. Then the path continues for a short stretch along the forest edge and later through the forest parallel to it.
After the winding, path-like section, there follows a section with wider forest roads, which also continues after crossing a country road. At the next junction, there is the option to reach Temmels (train station) via an access path. The path continues to the forest edge and, after crossing an asphalt path, again through a small forest. At the hillside edge, you then reach the rest area above Fellerich. With wonderful views of Fellerich, Tawern, and far into the Hunsrück, you have now completed about half the distance to Konz (see author's tip).
The path continues level above the vineyards of Fellerich. After a loop, the route descends one terrain level and you are now in the middle of the vineyards with views into the Albachtal, which is not far away as the next destination. The path leads steeply downhill through the vineyards to the Albach. The Moselle trail runs for a while on a flat forest path parallel to the stream. After a bridge, you hike a short stretch on a narrow path directly along the stream. Then another short section on a wider path on the valley floor, and the long and steep ascent through the forest towards the Löschemer chapel delights your hiking heart.
Halfway, a special experience awaits you if you wish: a detour to the orchid paradise, connected to the Moselle trail by an access loop (which rejoins the Moselle trail at the Löschemer chapel). During the blooming season, the nature reserve on the Wasserliescher Berg shows itself as a beautiful botanical highlight. Due to the favorable climate and good soil conditions, a variety of plant and animal species, now rare and protected, have settled here, especially orchids. With 28 species, ranging from the early purple orchids to the lady's slippers and the yellow gentian, you can admire one of the most important orchid habitats in Germany here.
The main path continues uphill in the forest. Almost at the top, the access path branches off towards Saarburg, whose first intermediate destination is Tawern. The path winds flatly through the forest over a longer stretch until, after a last path-like section, it reaches the Löschemer chapel. The chapel stands directly on the hillside edge; from here you have a wonderful view: to the east, you see Konz and the Moselle valley near Trier; to the north, on a clear day, you can look far into the Eifel.
The descent from the chapel first leads over a steep way of the cross, followed by a short flat stretch. On the last part, it then goes steeply downhill again on a path. Now the path passes some Buntsandstein rocks through an impressive beech high forest. Another short stretch on a forest road, then you reach the outskirts of Wasserliesch on the Moselle trail. Through a purely residential area, you soon reach the railway overpass. From here, an access path leads to the town center or the Wasserliesch train station.
Heading towards Konz, you continue hiking over railway and country road. After a short stretch next to the road, the Moselle trail continues along the lightly used railway line. The grass path alternates with a path winding through a dense forest. Briefly, the path touches the Saar shore (only a few meters to the Saar estuary), and a small detour leads again into greenery before crossing the Saar bridge to Konz. Right at the roundabout, the access path starts, leading to Konz main station, the end of this stage. With the help of the free ARGO app, you can experience a special sight in Konz. Discover the imperial palace Konz in its original appearance. Download the free ARGO app for this purpose and launch an augmented reality application on your smartphone or tablet that shows you the original building, as if it were still standing unchanged in its place. The free app as well as further information about the imperial palace can be found at www.ar-route.eu.
Equipment
- sturdy footwear
- weather-appropriate, practical hiking clothing
- packed lunch
Tip
Take a packed lunch with you, as there are no supply options on this stage. One of the best places for a long break is the rest area above Fellerich.
Getting there
Starting point: Nittel via B 419
End point: Konz via B 419
Parking
Nittel: Along the station by B 419
Konz: Parking is available near Konz main station and at the Konz-Mitte stop.
Public transit
You can reach the stage towns Nittel (station) as well as Konz (station Konz Mitte) by train (RB 82).
There are regular connections. Please note that during school holidays in Rhineland-Palatinate / Saarland, weekends, and public holidays, service frequency may be reduced! Please consult the current daily timetable from the traffic association Region Trier (VRT) website:
Literature
"Moselle Trail" - Official Moselle Trail Hiking Guide by ideemedia, €14.95
Authors: Ulrike Poller, Wolfgang Todt, Publisher: ideemedia, 300 pages with almost 300 photos, elevation profiles, QR codes, and GPS tracks, format 11.5 x 23 cm, ISBN: 978-3-942779-21-0, €14.95
"Official Moselle Trail hiking maps" in pocket format:
The entire route is divided into 3 maps:
Leisure Map Moselle Trail - Map 1: Perl - Trier (Stages 1 - 4), ISBN: 978-3-89637-419-6
Leisure Map Moselle Trail - Map 2: Trier - Zell (Moselle) (Stages 5 -14), ISBN: 978-3-89637-420-2
Leisure Map Moselle Trail - Map 3: Zell (Moselle) - Koblenz (Stages 15 - 24), ISBN: 978-3-89637-421-9
Single map: €5.90
Maps in a 3-set: €14.50 (ISBN: 978-3-89637422-6)
"Premium set"
Premium set, consisting of official hiking guide including 3-set hiking maps, publisher: ideemedia, ISBN: 978-3-942779-24-1, €26.95
The hiking guides and maps are available at bookstores or on the website https://www.visitmosel.de/wandern/service-infos-tipps under the category "Brochure order".
Maps
Moselle Trail Leisure Map - Map 1: Perl - Trier (Stages 1 - 4), ISBN: 978-3-89637-419-6
Additional Information
Mosellandtouristik GmbH
Kordelweg 1, 54470 Bernkastel-Kues; Phone: +49 (0)6531/97330
Saar-Obermosel-Touristik e. V.
Graf-Siegfried-Straße 32, 54439 Saarburg; Phone: +49 (0)6581/995980
Saarstraße 1, 54329 Konz; Phone: +49 (0)6501/6018040
Weather
This tour is presented by: Mosel. Faszination Urlaub, Author: Mosellandtouristik GmbH