Moselsteig Trail Stage 09: Neumagen-Dhron – Kesten/Osann-Monzel

The information board at the former railway embankment of the Moselle railway (there are even tracks) close to the banks of the Moselle is at the starting point of this Moselsteig Trail leg. From here, you first hike downstream of the river on a towpath towards the bridge. You hike directly along the banks of the river - this is the closest you will get to the Moselle on the entire Moselsteig Trail! The trail now continues on the pavement next to the road and over the bridge to the other side of the Moselle. In the Zweibachtal, the trail takes you steeply uphill through vineyards and past meadows and fruit trees. On this section you will have lots of views of the valley and the Moselle and Neumagener port, where you might even discover the Roman wine vessel.

The ascent continues, now through a terrain that is characterised by meadows, hedgerows and single groups of trees. Once you have arrived at the top, you have a wonderful view to the south, especially of the section you have just hiked on. A path continues along the access road to a stone quarry. A starting point for hang-gliding and paragliding is at the highest point. This location allows for a first view of the Moselle loop of Piesport. Soon the trail continues into a beautiful mixed forest and you reach the mountain and barbecue hut Weißlei at the slope edge. From here, the view of the Moselle Valley is overwhelming! In the wide round of the Moselle loop, the towns of Piesport, Minheim, Neumagen-Dhron and Trittenheim are embedded in the vineyards. The gently ascending slip face and the terraces on the Hunsrück side can be seen well from here. Also, the Moselle-Loreley at the undercut slop can already be seen from here.

The Moselsteig Trail now continues into the vineyards at a steep descent through the forest and passing the Spoar chapel. At the bottom end of the step section, the access route branches off to Piesport - the access route takes you to Moselle-Loreley. This alternative route and the Moselsteig Trail meet up again later. The main trail continues through the vineyards. After a road crossing, on a level route, you hike through the home of the Piesporter Goldtröpfchen wine, always with a view of the river and the surrounding landscape. After a short ascent you will arrive at the Panorama road, where the Donatus memorial located on a higher cliff, reminds of the Roman past of the Moselland. From here, a short detour to the Moselle-Loreley or into the valley to Minheim and Piesport is possible.

After crossing the saddle, where the Moselsteig Trail cuts off the Minheimer river loop, the view changes: No longer do you have a view of Piesport, but now Wintrich on the other side of the Moselle with its barrage will catch your eye. On the highest vineyard path, you hike between the edge of the forest and vineyards that are still managed or have already fallen fallow, to Kesten or Osann-Monzel. Before the trail turns into a side valley and continues through the forest, you should take another look of the Moselle Valley: A beautiful view of the river, framed by vineyards that reach close to the water. In the distance, you can already see the Brauneberg, which rests next to the Moselle like a capsized ship. In the forest, the trail now continues downhill to the Roman “Sauerbrunnen”. Here, you can do some water-treading to refresh you tired feet, and make use of one of the many resting places for a relaxing break. From here, the access route towards the leg destination Kesten branches off, it leads through the vineyards right down to the town at the Moselle.

For the destination Osann-Monzel, the trail climbs once again. First in the valley, then through a forest and back in the vineyards. On some sections you hike on a steep path next to rows of vines, before the Moselsteig Trail reaches the edge of the forest. In the forest, you continue uphill. Even when the trail leaves the forest, it continues to climb. Only at the edge of the forest you will be able to enjoy the view of the side valley and later also of the Moselle on a level path. The descent to Monzel continues on a meadow way, which offers a view of the town and the vast vine landscape. Not much further, you will pass the outskirts of the town and arrive in the town. This leg ends at the St. Nikolaus church. From here, there is also a direct access route to Kesten (0.9 km).

• Sturdy hiking footwear
• Appropriate weatherproof hiking gear
• Picnic lunch

Starting point: Neumagen-Dhron via the B 53

Destination: Kesten and Osann-Monzel can be reached via the L 47, K 53 and K 134, e.g. from the A 1 (Salmtal exit).

Neumagen-Dhron: Large car park on the riverbank close to the Stella Noviomagi

Osann-Monzel: Small car park on Moselstraße directly adjacent to the Moselsteig Trail

Kesten: Moselstraße at the bus stop (0.9 km walk to the Moselsteig Trail)

You can reach the stage towns Neumagen-Dhron (bus stop Realschule plus) as well as Kesten (bus stop K 134) with the bus line 332.

To get to Osann-Monzel, it is best to take the bus to Kesten and walk about 2.5 km to Osann-Monzel (uphill).

There are regular connections. Please note that during the school vacations in Rhineland-Palatinate / Saarland, at weekends and on public holidays, there may be restrictions on the frequency! Please check the daily timetable on the website of the Verkehrsverbund Region Trier (VRT):

www.vrt-info.de

"Moselsteig" - Offzieller Moselsteig-Wanderführer von ideemedia, 14,95 €

Authors: Ulrike Poller, Wolfgang Todt, publisher: ideemedia, 300 pages with around 300 images, altitude profiles, QR codes and GPS Tracks (in German), Format 11,5 x 23 cm, ISBN: 978-3-942779-21-0, 14,95 €

"Official Moselsteig Trail hiking maps" in pocket format:

The entire route is divided into 3 maps:

Leisure Map Moselsteig - Map 1: Perl - Trier (Stages 1 - 4), ISBN: 978-3-89637-419-6

Leisure Map Moselsteig - Map 2: Trier – Zell (Moselle) (Stages 5 -14), ISBN: 978-3-89637-420-2 Leisure Map Moselsteig - Map 3: Zell (Moselle) – Koblenz (Stages 15 -24) ISBN: 978-3-89637-421-9

Individual maps: €5.90

Set of 3 maps: € 14.50 (ISBN: 978-3-89637422-6)

"Premium-Set"

Premium set consisting of the official hiking guide including set of 3 hiking maps. Publisher: ideemedia, ISBN: 978-3-942779-24-1, 26,95 €

The hiking guides and the maps are available in bookstores or on the website https://www.visitmosel.de/wandern/service-infos-tipps under the heading “Ordering brochures”.

Leisure Map Moselsteig Trail – Map 2: Trier - Zell (Mosel) (Stages 5 - 14), ISBN: 978-3-89637-420-2

Mosellandtouristik GmbH

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

www.moselsteig.de

Tourist information office Bernkastel-Kues

Gestade 6, 54470 Bernkastel-Kues; Phone: +49 (6531) / 500190

www.bernkastel.de

Tourist-Information Wittlich Stadt und Land

Marktplatz 5, 54516 Wittlich; Telefon: 06571/4086

www.moseleifel.de