Discover Bernkastel-Wittlich

In Bernkastel-Wittlich, the volcanic Eifel, the romantic Moselle Valley and the Hunsrück, rich in forests and meadows, come together. This offers a range of options for your trip: hiking and winter sports on the Erbeskopf, wine tastings in historic vaulted cellars, or exploring Roman times and regional history. When choosing a holiday apartment, you can consider which of these experiences matter most for your stay.

Erbeskopf: Hiking, winter sports and nature

At 816 metres, the Erbeskopf is a great place to go hiking. It also offers a range of winter sports. Visitors interested in nature and the environment will find an interactive multimedia exhibition at the National Park Gate, focusing on forests and moors.

There are also various ways to enjoy the outdoors around Manderscheid. The Manderscheider Burgenstieg is a 5.4-kilometre, moderately difficult circular hiking trail around the castles. The stated duration is two hours. The Burgenklettersteig also loops around the two castles, in three stages. It is about 4 kilometres long in total, with safety cables along 1 kilometre of the route. These different formats offer a practical guide if you are choosing between a circular hiking trail and a via ferrata.

The Manderscheid Castles are two medieval ruins. They face each other on steep rocky spurs above the Lieser. Another natural landmark is the Burgweiher pond in the Lieser Valley, on the edge of Manderscheid, which is designated a protected natural monument. The castle complex and the pond each offer a distinct focus: medieval architectural history on the one hand, and a protected natural monument on the other.

Wine, culture and history

The wine shop in the historic vaulted cellars of St. Nicholas Hospital offers tastings of wines from the Moselle, Saar and Ruwer. The selection includes 100 wines, ranging from quality wines to ice wine. This makes the wine shop a useful stop for travellers who want to do more than simply appreciate wine as a regional speciality and would like to discover different wines.

The cultural attractions offer different points of interest. The Cusanus birthplace in Kues is used as a museum and event venue; its permanent exhibition is dedicated to Nicholas of Cusa. The Zylinderhaus showcases 90 years of German automotive history and more than 100 cars, motorcycles and vans. Visitors interested in archaeological finds can see originals such as clay vessels and stone fragments from funerary monuments at the Museum Noviomagi. The museum takes visitors back to Roman times.

An audio tour in Neumagen-Dhron combines archaeological themes with a circular route: it starts at the tourist information office and passes historic sites, monuments and finds along a route of about 800 metres. It takes about 45 minutes. In Klausen, meanwhile, the pilgrimage church of Maria Heimsuchung is a destination with a long history: it was consecrated in 1502. Klausen remains a destination for pilgrims every year.

Cycling and travelling on the Moselle

The Maare-Moselle Cycle Route runs 58.5 kilometres from Daun to Bernkastel-Kues along a disused railway line. A cycle bus takes cyclists from Bernkastel-Kues back to the starting point; the return journey can be booked in advance. The route and return journey are therefore important considerations when adding a cycling trip to your plans. The STELLA NOVIOMAGI also offers a boat trip on the Moselle, starting in Neumagen-Dhron.

Another special experience is the castle festival: on a weekend in August, the Manderscheid Castles and the meadow between them provide the setting. The programme includes traditional crafts, jesters, knight tournaments and minnesang. So, alongside museums, nature and outdoor activities, live performances and crafts may also be interests to consider when planning your trip.

To choose a holiday apartment, it helps to decide on your preferred focus first: wine tastings, hiking and via ferrata routes, museums, cycling or a boat trip appeal to different interests. You can then include the places and experiences individually in your travel plans, rather than trying to combine every activity into a single excursion programme.

More places to explore: Bernkastel-Kues, Manderscheid, Traben-Trarbach, Morbach, Thalfang Am Erbeskopf, Wittlich, Reil, Kröv-Bausendorf, Immert, Flußbach, Oberöfflingen, Salmtal, Ürzig, Osann-Monzel and Dierscheid.

For the broader travel overview: Rhineland-Palatinate.