Monrealer Ritterschlag
Hiking along the Eifel Traumpfad Monrealer Ritterschlag
Along the tracks of knights: the Löwenburg and Philippsburg castles tower majestically above the medieval half-timbered village of Monreal. Steep and meandering forest paths, adventurous ravines and spectacular distant views make the trail a unique experience.
Description of the Traumpfad Monrealer Ritterschlag
An access road leads from the station in Monreal to the starting point at the old vicarage. It continues through historic village centre over the Lower Castle Bridge. Following the banks of the Elz, the path goes through a quiet residential area out into nature. The gently climbing path conquers the escarpment above the Elz and reveals a breathtaking view of the castles. Along the way the farm shop of the Schnürenhof offers fresh products from their own farming for sale (Uschis Hofladen – Shop hours: Tuesday 9 to 12 clock, Friday 10 to 19 clock, Saturday 9 to 12 clock).
The trail continues along soft footpaths through the idyllic Elz valley, through a deeply carved narrow pass uphill and further through open meadowland with a great panorama. After a curve and a short ascent to Juckelsberg mountain there is a seat to rest.
The trail crosses over the L 98 and leads along a short distance over a field into the forest, before the view of the Hochbermel and of the sleepy Thürelz valley comes into sight. The serpentine descent that follows goes down across a steep barren slope with gnarled oaks growing on it into open gorse bush countryside. In the valley the trail crosses the railway tracks (subway) and the brook, passes the junction to the “Traumpfad Hochbermeler“ and climbs up along narrow paths to a ridge. The trail follows briefly along the ridge between Elz and Thürelz and then starts to descend down to Augstmühle.
After the confluence of both streams, the trail goes across the Elz and reaches the sportsfield of Monreal. Here the 100 m high steep ascent to the Monreal castles. After going through meadowland, the path reaches a rocky promontory in the forest where there is a spectacular view of Monreal and the castles. A few metres later the path forks, one path going down to Philippsburg castle. A last climb goes to the walls of the Löwenberg Castle. Finally a narrow path leads down to Monreal.
Highlights of the Monrealer Ritterschlag
- Idyllic half-timbered village of Monreal with quaint streets
- Views of the valleys of the Elz and Thürelz
- Paths through forest ravines and over a mountain ridge
- Eifel panorama
- Farm shop at Schnürenhof
- Ruins of the Philippsburg and Löwenburg Castles
- Connecting path to the Traumpfad Hochbermeler
How to get there
- A 48 exit Mayen
- B 262 in direction of Mayen
- turn right on to the B 258 in the direction of Nürburgring
- turn right on to the L 98 until Monreal
- at the end of Monreal turn right on to the L 96 in the direction of Uersfeld/Kelberg
- turn right immediately on to the car part “Alter Bahnhof” (old station) (access to starting point)
Data about the Monrealer Ritterschlag
- Length: 13.7 km
- Height gain: 508 m
- Duration: 5:25 hours
- Level of difficulty: moderate
Start
56729 Monreal, Old Vicarage (Obere Schlossbrücke)
Access
- 56729 Monreal, car park “Alter Bahnhof” (Bahnhofstraße)
- 56729 Monreal, An der Phillippsburg









































