The approximately 13 km long guided hike masterfully combines cultural and hiking experiences. It reveals interesting facts about the life of Eifel poet Peter Zirbes, reports on the life of the Krugbäcker bakers and stoneware dealers in the 19th century, and knowledgeable storytellers entertain with popular magic and witch legends about the ghostly activities of unredeemed souls. The starting point is Monday, October 2, 2023, at 11 a.m. at Eifelhotel Lamberty in Niederkail. Via Hof Mellich, the route passes the legendary Devil's Stone into the former Krugbäcker village Bruch. The imposing and historic Bruch Castle is the destination for the midday stop with delicious Eifel Döppekoche. After lunch, part of the Eifelsteig takes you through the tranquil Salm valley through forest and along field and meadow paths past the Peter Zirbes House to the shared conclusion with a strengthening vegetable soup at Landhotel Lamberty in Niederkail.
Eifel poems, legends, the guild of Krugbäcker bakers, and the castle in Bruch are just some of the spectacular ingredients for today's hiking enjoyment as part of the South Eifel Hiking Week 2023.
By car, drive from Wittlich via the A60 to the Landscheid exit. Then continue on B50 towards Landscheid/Niederkail. In Niederkail, turn right onto Brückenstraße.
The guided hike starts at 11 a.m. at Landhotel Lamberty. By bus line 303, you depart from Wittlich central bus station at 10:25 a.m., arriving in Niederkail at 10:56 a.m. In the evening, you return from Niederkail by the same line at 6:12 p.m., arriving at Wittlich central bus station at 6:43 p.m. Timetable of buses in the Trier Region Transport Association (VRT)
Free parking is available at Landhotel Lamberty. We recommend forming carpool groups.
We meet at the parking lot in front of the entrance to Landhotel Lamberty. From here, we start the hike "In the Footsteps of the Eifel Poet Peter Zirbes" initially heading towards Trierer Straße, B50, which we cross carefully. Via small steps we reach the forest path running parallel to the road and follow the path to the Linsenbach. We continue along the brook, which we cross after about 700 meters. The route steadily climbs uphill. After about 1 km, we reach the paved farm road, which we follow on the left for about 2.5 km with a splendid view over the South Eifel. The farm shop of the "South Eifel Tomatoes", the legendary Devil's Stone, historic wayside shrines and crosses, lovingly restored farmhouses, and charming front gardens line our way into the former Krugbäcker village Bruch an der Salm. In Bruch, we follow the Eifelsteig on the right along the Salm, enjoy the rattling of the historic waterwheel at the former oil mill before we reach Burgstraße via narrow stairs, which we follow for about 200 m to Bruch Castle. At Bruch Castle, we break for lunch. Along with crispy, authentically prepared Eifel Döppekoche, we enjoy the historic atmosphere of the former water castle from the year 1138. If desired, the relaxing lunch break can be complemented by enjoying delicious Bitburger barley juice (not included in the hiking price) before, after about an hour and a half, we start the return journey via parts of the Eifelsteig to Niederkail. The return route takes us back along Burgstraße, which we follow to the bridge. We cross the bridge and walk along the Salm through Salmstraße to the intersection. We carefully cross Schulstraße and continue straight on "In Krummenau". The Salm is our constant companion. Along the paved farm road, we pass lovingly maintained allotment gardens and the Schnitzenmühle over the Salm bridge at the edge of town. Soon we leave the farm road and follow varied uphill and downhill sections for the next 3 km partly along the Eifelsteig over natural paths and narrow trails. About 2 km before Niederkail, we reach a paved farm road which we follow downhill on the right to the intersection with B50. We carefully cross the federal road and walk past the little chapel through Peter Zirbes Straße and St. Hubertus Straße back to the start at Landhotel Lamberty. Here we stop for refreshments and enjoy the conclusion of the hike together.
The hike leads partly over paved farm roads but also through forest and over unpaved paths. We recommend sturdy footwear and hiking poles for support on uphill and downhill sections.
We recommend sturdy and well-broken-in footwear, functional clothing, optionally telescopic poles, and please remember sun and/or rain protection.
The Peter Zirbes House is open from 4:00 p.m. Anyone interested can take a look at the poet's birthplace on the way back.
