RuT2 near Mandern between Ruwer and Burkelsbach

From our starting point at the parking lot at the sewage treatment plant, our path leads us directly along meadows that are particularly colorful and species-rich. In some meadows in the Ruwer floodplain between Mandern and Hentern, in March, you can admire a botanical special feature: yellow daffodils. This rare and protected plant species only thrives where there is little or no fertilization.
We continue along the barbecue hut and discover spruce plots directly in the stream valley. Because managing the wet meadows was very laborious and therefore of little interest to agriculture, they were often planted with conifers. However, these dense conifer stands in the stream valley act like barriers for many animal species such as butterflies or birds and restrict their habitat. For this reason, spruce plantations have already been removed in areas of the water project.

The path continues along the Ruwer where we can see that buffer strips have already been created in Mandern to preserve the habitat for animals and plants. Dragonflies and marsh marigolds have gained new habitats. We turn right, reach the viewpoint after about 2.2 km, and enjoy a beautiful view into the Keller Mulde. We continue via the K71 towards the barbecue hut between Mandern and Waldweiler. We cross the Burkelsbach. Narrow culverts under paths in the stream are insurmountable obstacles for fish and small animals—especially when migrating upstream. Here, narrow culverts under paths have been removed so that the stream has a continuous bed of stones, gravel, and sand again, allowing aquatic animals free passage.

We reach the local community of Mandern and walk along the church back to our starting point.

Sturdy footwear, comfortable and weather-appropriate clothing is recommended.

In March, the yellow daffodil blooms here. It is found in Germany at very few locations in the Hunsrück and Eifel. Its population in the Ruwer valley is therefore particularly worthy of protection.

From the A1: Exit Reinsfeld towards Kell am See, B407 to the Mandern junction, in Mandern turn left at the church towards Zerf, at the town exit turn right towards the sewage treatment plant and barbecue hut.

From Trier: via Zerf towards Mandern, in Mandern turn left towards the sewage treatment plant.

Parking lot at the sewage treatment plant

The thematic path is sponsored as part of the Ruwer water project through the federal water margin strip program with participation from the state of Rhineland-Palatinate. The goal is to preserve and develop the Ruwer and its tributaries with their floodplains over about 186 km of watercourse as a near-natural water and floodplain landscape in the Saar-Hunsrück Nature Park.

In total, 6 thematic hiking routes (Rut1-Rut6) belong to this project, bringing the Ruwer and its use very vividly and informatively close to the hiker.