The Maare-Mosel cycle path is 55 km long Railway cycle paththat of Down in the Eifel to Bernkastel-Kues leads to the Moselle.
The highlights are several viaducts and four tunnels. Two of the tubes are even longer than 500 m.
Route profile
- Length: 55 km
- Signposting: Rather mediocre signposting. The large logos were only applied sparingly (there is no more than one logo per sign post, see photo). In addition to the actual route, "adventure loops" to sights off the route are also signposted.
- Slopes: low with a max. 3% gradient on the former railway line, but continuous on long stretches. From the highest point near Mehren to the Moselle, the route has a gradient of approx. 400 m over a distance of 35 km. So if you want to roll a lot, it's best to cycle from Daun towards the Moselle. 161 meters up, 449 meters down.
- Path condition: the entire route has a fine asphalt surface outside of the villages
- Traffic load: partly next to the main road, outside of the villages mostly cycle paths especially for cyclists
- Suitable bike: City or touring bike with 3 gears
- Family suitability: outside the localities
- Inline suitability: Yes for experienced inline skaters, as there are longer downhill stretches. Some railway bridges are also missing. The resulting ramps at road crossings also have a steeper gradient.
background
Where trains used to puff, you can now get out of the 55 km long railway line without traffic disruption Vulkaneifel The relatively flat route, especially when compared to alternative trails, is also made for inexperienced cyclists and children and ensures relaxed enjoyment of nature. Twelve signposted adventure loops that lead off the bike path lead to numerous sights and cultural attractions . These loops mostly use farm roads and are sometimes considerably steeper. The eponymous Maars cannot be seen from the route, but there are signposted detours, especially between Daun and Schalkenmehren.
Information about the maars can be found in the area of the route in the following museums:
The Wittlich - Daun section is much more attractive than the southern section, so that you can concentrate on it on a day tour. A start in Wittlich is preferable.
All 3 tunnels are passable all year round.
preparation
getting there
By train
Cyclist buses
- A leisure bus line with bicycles runs parallel to the route. The "Regio-Radler" travels the Daun - Wittlich - Bernkastel-Kues route every 2 hours from April 1st to November 1st (see also www.regio-radler.de)
- Cycle bus 300 to Wittlich Hbf train station, every 2 hours daily until around 8 p.m.
- Cycle bus 333 Trier - Bullay station along the Moselle, 3 times a day
By bicycle
- Eifel-Ardennes cycle path - Connection in Daun.
- Mineral springs cycle path, starting from Ahr cycle path
- Moselle cycle path - Connection in Bernkastel
- Little Kyll Cosmos Cycle Path from Meerfeld, runs parallel to the Maare-Mosel cycle path - Cosmos bike path
In the street
- The farewell More on the BAB 1 from Trier to Koblenz offers a quick way to get to the Schalkenmehren train station. There you have a connection.
Route description with sights
12 loops in the area of the Vulkaneifel
Daun - Schalkenmehren - Gillenfeld: 11 km
km 0 - 11, meters in altitude: 68 m up, 73 m down
- continuous ascent to the first tunnel. After passing it, it goes downhill again to the Mürmes junction and then with a slight gradient to Gillenfeld. All in all, a very beautiful section where the cyclist is surrounded by peace and nature. The three are to the west of the cycle path Dauner Maarethat can be reached by detour.
- Down - The train station, which is the start of the route, offers a gastronomic offer in an old wagon. A little later you cross a high viaduct with a view back to Daun. (Daun Viaduct, built between 1907 and 1908, length 103 meters, height above valley 28 meters)
- You drive through a forest to and then through the "Großer Schlitzohr" or Schalkenmehrener tunnel. Under the tunnel ceiling there are large wooden bat boxes in which the animals have their winter quarters. In this way a winter closure could be avoided.
- Schalkenmehren - with an old train station and a small locomotive as well as a parking and rest area. The place is known for the Schalkenmehrener Maar and offers refreshment stops and accommodation.
- Udler / Saxler - Train station and rest area
- Gillenfeld - Larger village with a gastronomic offer, including a kebab grill
The loops south of Daun:
- S1: Loop Mehren, length 3 km - start at the rest area behind the “Großes Schlitzohr” tunnel, at the Sangweiher nature reserve you come back to the main path.
- S2: Loop Vulcano information platform Steineberg-Gillenfeld, length 16 km - mainly ascending from Mehren via Steinigen to Steineberg to the 28 m high Vulcano information platform. From there you have a fantastic panoramic view of the volcanic Eifel landscape. The loop meets the main path again at Gillefeld.
- S3: Mürmes-Saxler-Ellscheid loop, length 10 km
- S4: Brockscheid-Holzmaar loop, length 6.5 km
- S5: Strohn-Mückeln loop, length 12 km
Gillenfeld - Hasborn 16 km
km 11-27, ascent: 85 m up, 102 m down
The loops all around Manderscheid:
- S6: Adventure loop Kloster-Buchholz, length 9 km
- S7: Grafschaft adventure loop, length 6 km
- S8: Greimerath adventure loop, length 3 km
Hasborn - Wittlich 11 km
The most beautiful and best section with 3 tunnels. In the direction of Wittlich it goes strongly downhill.
27 - 38 km, ascent: 4 m up, 209 m down
- Pleiner tunnel, length 585 meters, making it the longest.
- Plein Viaduct, length 98 meters, height above valley 31 meters
- Unkenstein tunnel, length 140 meters
- Grünewald tunnel, length 124 meters
Grind:
- S9: Descent loop (16 km)
- S10: Mühlenfahrt loop (32 km)
- S11: pilgrimage loop (24 km)
- S12: Wine Tour Loop (44 km)
- S13: Tobacco Loop (18 km)
Wittlich - Bernkastel-Kues 19 km
km 38 - 53, altitude difference: 4m up, 65m down
- Wittlich - the big place is crossed in the center
Partly next to the local road, later a farm road.
The Maare-Mosel cycle path now runs up to the north bank of the Moselle
- Bernkastel-Kues - here you meet the south of the Moselle Moselle cycle path.
Grind:
- S14: Adventure loop Middle Moselle tour (20 km)
- S15: Adventure loop castle-castle tour: Lieser-Bernkastel-Kues (10 km)
Other places to stay
security
trips
- Continue on the Moselle cycle path, next train station: Traben-Trarbach
References to literature and maps
- Rivers and railway lines Eifel: Ahr, Enz, Erft, Kalkeifel, Kyll, Maare-Mosel, Prüm, Urft, Vennbahn - 722 km (Bikeline bike tour books). Esterbauer, ISBN 978-3850006828 . - 2016
