Moselsteig Side Trail Karlskopf-Panoramaweg

The Karlskopf Panorama Trail starts at the sports field in Pellingen. At the same time, the starting point is the highest point of the circular route, i.e. no matter in which direction you hike the path, at first it goes downhill. The first destination is the Höthkopf monument. Once you have hiked half around the sports field, you continue along the edge of the new development area. It becomes clear, how the name of the path came about. The panorama is breathtaking. The view opens up towards the north west right to Luxembourg. The heights of the Eifel are also at your feet. In between, the Moselle Valley is embedded. You can even see the river itself. Somewhere between Wasserbillig and Konz it appears as a silver thread.

The path now continues through the new development area. The panorama view is also great here. Looking east, you see the wooded heights of the Hunsrück, ideally from the lounger just before the Höthkopf monument. At the monument itself (war memorial), you have a 180° view, which you should enjoy on one of the benches or at the rest place. Just for this panorama you have to have a pair of binoculars to see the many mountains of the Eifel on the horizon even better.

The Side Trail leads back to the edge of the new development, via the reconstruction or a Roman road and then steeply downhill (with a distance view) until just before the B 268. The short section on the agricultural road parallel to the road is quickly tackled, and you continue on a winding path through open bush and hedgerows. The section through the bushes is very short and ends, as it should be, at one of the loungers with a view of the Konzer Tälchen. The Konz city district Krettnach and the surrounding vineyards are also in view, as well as a part of the way forward.

This leads on a road first at the same height to the forest, but soon on a path steeply uphill. Through a dry valley you arrive at the first vineyards of Krettnach. It's still a bit downhill until the village is reached, but then you continue on the south side of the valley. The meadow path leads you along the edge of the forest for quite a section, and is a pleasant hike. Then you reach the turn-off to Krettnach. If you like, you can also descend via the signposted access route to the village.

Now the first ascent of the path starts. First through the vineyards, then on a path through the forest. The incline is very even, and you can find your walking rhythm. The effort is worthwhile, because at the top a grandiose panorama view awaits hikers on an open meadow.

Slightly downhill you continue past the memorial cross at the Karlskopf to the radio mast. Here the character of the way changes. The path descends through an oak forest, leads around a side valley and then steeply downhill until you reach the edge of the vineyards. Here, a rest area awaits the hiker with a view of the Konzer Tälchen and the vineyards. The subsequent passages alternate between different vineyard paths, continuously opening up new perspectives of the vineyard landscape. At the Oberemmeler Marienkapelle the climb begins. Until the edge of the forest it's really steep. Take a short breather and enjoy the view of the Konzer Tälchen.

Also, along the edge of the forest and later in the forest the ascent is still moderate. Only after circling a side valley, it gets steeper. The path through the Douglas fir forest finally leads without any major detours directly up the mountain. At the top, you reach the Pellingen Schanzenhütte. The mountain hut also offers barbecue facilities. From here, it's only a few metres to the parking area at the sports field, where the Side Trail ends.

Please ensure you are wearing sturdy shoes.

The magnificent panorama from the heights around Pellingen is difficult to put into words or pictures. Take a pair of binoculars on the hike!

B 268 between Trier and Zerf. The parking area at the sports field (signposted) can only accessed via the Waldstraße.

Parking directly at the entry point at the sports field.

There is a second starting point in Konz-Krettnach at the Bürgerhaus. Sufficient parking is available here.

During the week Pellingen only has irregular transportation facilities. At the weekend, there is no bus service.

Literature (only available in German):

"Seitensprünge" Band 1 - 10 Premium-Rundwanderungen von Trier bis Bernkastel-Kues von ideemedia

Authors: Ulrike Poller, Wolfgang Todt, Publisher: ideemedia, 114 pages, Format: 11,0 x 16,4 cm, ISBN: 978-3-942779-59-3, 12,95 €

Mosellandtouristik GmbH

Kordelweg 1, 54470 Bernkastel-Kues; Phone: +49 (6531) / 97330

www.moselsteig.de

Saar-Obermosel-Touristik e. V.

Graf-Siegfried-Straße 32, 54439 Saarburg; Phone: +49 (6581) / 995980

Saarstraße 1, 54329 Konz; Phone: +49 (6501) / 6018040

www.saar-obermosel.de