The wine town of Zell (Mosel)—whose Latin name, “Cella,” stands in interesting contrast to the Celtic names “Merl” and “Kaimt,” its suburbs—has been the principal town of the “Zeller Hamm” (Mosel loop) since ancient times. Today, together with 24 local communities in the Moselle Valley and on the Hunsrück, it forms the municipality of Zell, with a population of about 16,000. Zell (Moselle), a wine town over 2,000 years old, invites visitors on a journey through its eventful history, which is reflected in its impressive buildings, winding alleys, and, not least, its picturesque town center. Its scenic charm and favorable climate make this wine town a magnet for tourists from all over the world. Historic wine cellars, museums, boat tours, wine-related activities, and a vibrant culinary scene offer a seemingly endless variety of ways to spend your vacation. Extensive hiking trails and attractive excursions into the charming surrounding area offer the opportunity for more than just a short getaway.
Take the B53 to the opposite side of the Moselle (via the Bullay double-deck bridge or the Zell-Kaimt highway bridge). Then continue straight ahead until you reach the town hall at Balduinstr. 44, 56856 Zell (Mosel).
Take the train to Bullay, then take bus lines 720, 721, or 750 to Zell (Mosel) Lindenplatz
Public parking spaces along the Moselle promenade (paid parking)
Free parking on "Brandenburg" and "Am Bahnhof" streets
With the “Zeller Schwarze Katz” fountain, the citizens have erected a fitting monument to their world-famous wine, the “Zeller Schwarze Katz” grand vineyard. The fountain was built as early as 1936 using Eifel basalt. “He stands firm like a man from Zell in the Hamm” - “He stands firm like a man from Zell in the Hamm,” reads the inscription on the fountain, referring to the year 1522, when, during the defense of Trier against the onslaught of Franz von Sickingen, a hundred citizens from Zell set out for Trier to repel the attack. The people of Trier ultimately succeeded in repelling the attack with the support of the citizens of Zell.
Walking through the pedestrian zone, you’ll pass two of the three oldest houses in Zell. The “Müllen” house (Balduinstraße 37) was built in 1532 and served as a castle house of the Electorate of Trier. The “Bohn” house (Balduinstraße 32), dating from 1535, was built in the late Gothic style. In the Zell-Merl district stands the von Flottwell House at Hauptstraße 32. The rubble stone masonry was built around 1260. The half-timbered structure dates from 1480, and the plank wall is from 1565.
A few steps further on, a view of the “Runde Turm” opens up on the left. The “Round Tower,” the landmark of the town of Zell (Mosel), was the highest tower of the former town fortifications. After the great fire of 1848, these fortifications were demolished except for a few remnants, and the stones were used to build houses. However, the Round Tower and the Square Tower were preserved and served as emergency housing. The tower is 14 meters high and has a diameter of six meters. Even today, the embrasures are clearly visible—it is through these that the tower earned the nickname “Powder Tower.”
It’s not far from here to the flood gauge in Fährgasse. The flood protection wall along the banks of the Moselle was built in 1989 to protect the Old Town. The Moselle only floods the city when the water level reaches 8.70 meters (in Trier). (Normal water level: 2.50 meters – 2.70 meters). In 1993, the Moselle reached a water level of 11.30 meters, making it one of the highest floods of the past centuries.
The tour continues along the Moselle promenade, where, on the left, you can see the “Boos von Waldeckhof” (today’s Treis Winery) in the Zell-Kaimt district, which was built in 1580. The building is one of the most beautiful half-timbered houses in the Moselle Valley. It belonged to the noble family of the Boos von Waldeck, a branch of the Trier-based ministerial family von Waldeck—documented since 1242—which was later elevated to the rank of count.
As you walk along the Moselle promenade
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the pedestrian bridge now comes into view. From here, you can enjoy a good view of the “Zeller Schwarze Katz” wine label and the Collisturm (built in 1906 of red brick), which stands high above the vineyards of Zell (Mosel). A shelter once stood at this very spot, but it fell victim to an “arsonist.” For this reason, the Zell chapter of the former Mosel-Hochwald-Hunsrück Association decided to build the Collisturm. The Moseltalbahn provided the building materials for the tower’s masonry. The tower, visible from afar today, stands nearly eight meters tall and features a weather vane on its roof. You can reach the Collisturm and its observation deck via the Collis Steilpfad or the Collis Rundwanderweg. It is a popular destination for hikers, who enjoy a magnificent view of Zell and the Moselle Valley from here.
The route now continues along the Moselle, past the Old Train Station and the Zell Municipal Association, into Schlossstraße toward the Protestant church. The church was built in 1866 on unstable ground. As a result, the foundation lacked sufficient support, and there was a risk of collapse. Since repairs would have cost as much as building a new structure, the church was demolished in 1954. When the new church was built, the architects strictly adhered to the requirements set forth by Professor Otto Bartning, a leading authority on sacred architecture. It was intended—and still is today—to be a “roofed profession of faith.” The pitch and tone sequence of the four bronze bells were harmonized with the pealing of the Catholic church’s bells.
Not far away stands the Electoral Residence Palace of Zell. This late-Gothic city palace is considered one of the most beautiful secular Baroque buildings on the Moselle. It was constructed under various electors. The building, situated uphill, was built of rubble stone using red and white sandstone. It is flanked by two round towers. This rear, two-towered wing is now used as a hotel. The front wing, which adjoins Schlossstraße, is flanked by two towers and was built in 1542. The two-story connecting structure was also erected in the 16th century. At the same time, the courtyard and garden were enclosed by a wall whose pillars are topped with Rococo-era sandstone figures of Diana, Apollo, and presumably Minerva
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The synagogue was housed in an outbuilding of the Electoral Palace. The entrance to the synagogue is located on Jakobsstraße. Above the entrance portal are reliefs depicting a seven-branched menorah and the Ten Commandments. In 1849, the then-district administrator Alexander Moritz sold the upper floors of the servants’ quarters—which belonged to Zeller Castle—to the Jewish community of Briedel-Zell. As the congregation continued to grow, by the mid-1920s there was no longer enough space for the worshippers. For this reason, it was decided to create more space inside the synagogue, and a women’s gallery was built. As part of this construction project, a starry sky and a larger Torah ark were also added. The “Friends of the Zell Synagogue” association has succeeded in preserving the synagogue as a memorial and making it accessible to visitors.
The Neoclassical St. Peter’s Church in Zell (Mosel) was built between 1786 and 1793 in what was then the Kellnereigarten, in front of the lower gate of medieval Zell, and stands today in the town center. Built of red sandstone, the church is one of the most beautiful examples of this Neoclassical style in the Moselle Valley. The interior dates largely from the Rococo period and the time of the church’s construction. The high altar, dating from 1787 and shaped like a canopy supported by four columns, was created by the Trier sculptor Matthias Höpp. In the side altar, one finds the most beautiful and precious ornament of today’s parish church: a magnificent late-Gothic wooden statue of the Virgin Mary.
The mosaic on the church wall of St. Peter’s Parish Church on Balduinstraße depicts the history of the town of Zell. Depicted, among other things, are: the coat of arms of the town of Zell (Mosel) and its three sister cities (Antoing, Triptis, Crépy-en-Valois), the Round Tower, the Square Tower, the “Zeller Schwarze Katz” fountain, the Moselle loop, the Hunger Cross, the Executioner’s Cross, depictions from the Roman and Celtic periods, and the town fortifications from 1229.
Tip: St. Michael’s Catholic Parish Church. Of the former church, only the east tower still towers over the Zell-Merl district. Today’s parish church is the monastery church of the former Minorite monastery, which is estimated to have been founded around 1290. Inside the single-nave church, visitors can admire an Antwerp-style carved altar from around 1525, which ranks among the most magnificent and beautiful of its kind. Above the sacristy is Germany’s oldest roof truss (1290).
The route now continues along Römerstraße, past the Zell “waterfall,” to the “Viereckiger Turm” (Square Tower). The “Viereckiger Turm” is part of the old city fortifications and served as protection against troops from the Zell Bach Valley. In the early modern period, it served as the “district prison” and was referred to in 1626 as the “Bachturm” or “gra(u)er Thörn (Turm).” Old city views from 1576 and 1646 still show corner towers and a steep roof. With its six stories and the ground floor, it stands 22 meters tall. Inside the tower, you can see two massive oak beams with an old lintel and four large window openings. The current archways were not built until the 19th century to provide access to the cemetery.
Stay Hydrated
Bring plenty of drinking water with you and drink regularly. Especially during hikes and bike rides along the Moselle, the heat can be intense in the summer.
Ticks
Check your body thoroughly after your trip and use a suitable insect repellent if necessary.
Dogs
Please keep dogs on a leash whenever possible and be considerate of wildlife, grazing animals, and other visitors.
Emergency
In an emergency, you can reach emergency services throughout Europe by dialing 112. Provide your location as precisely as possible and, if possible, use your cell phone’s location feature.
Headwear
Wear a hat in warm weather. There are very few shaded areas, especially on the open paths through the vineyards.
Sun Protection
Apply plenty of sunscreen with an appropriate SPF and protect yourself from intense sunlight.
All trails in the Zeller Land region are carefully maintained. However, trail conditions, closures, or weather conditions may change at short notice. Use of the hiking and biking trails is at your own risk. Please check the current conditions before starting your tour and choose a route that matches your personal fitness level and experience.
Mosellandtouristik GmbH
Kordelweg 1, 54470 Bernkastel-Kues; Phone: 06531/97330
www.moselsteig.de
Zeller Land Tourismus GmbH, Tourist Information
Balduinstraße 44, 56856 Zell (Mosel); 06542/96220
www.zellerland.de
