Castles: Circular Trail and Roman Local History

Burgen combines local history with a clearly named circular trail and a bus connection from Koblenz. When choosing your destination, you can weigh up different interests: a hike through forest and valley, historic traces in the village, or travelling by public transport. Cultural attractions in the wider destination of Mayen-Koblenz are another option.

History and notable places

The area around Burgen was inhabited as early as Celtic and Roman times, as numerous finds show. Near Burgen, the southern branch of the Roman Maifeld-Hunsrück Road crossed the Moselle. The present-day village was first mentioned in a document in 928. These are distinct historical reference points: the history of settlement goes back further than the first documented mention of the present-day village.

A large Crucifixion group stands in an open-sided hall in the cemetery. It earned the residents of Burgen the nickname “Kreuzschleifer”. The traditional name links a specific work of art with a local peculiarity.

Nearby, Bischofstein Castle stands opposite the village of Burgen on a steep slate-rock outcrop. Its keep is about 30 metres high, and its walls are two metres thick. Below the castle, Unterbischofstein Chapel sits on a narrow rocky ridge. The former St Paul’s Chapel was once a well-known pilgrimage site and is still popular with locals and visitors today. The castle and chapel offer distinct historical highlights: a castle with striking dimensions and a chapel with a history of pilgrimage.

Hiking and getting here

The Moselsteig side trail Borjer Ortsbachpädche, known in standard German as “Burgener Ortsbachpfad”, is an approximately nine-kilometre circular trail. The start and finish are in the Moselle village of Burgen. The route passes through forest and valley and offers far-reaching views of the Hunsrück and the Moselle Valley. This one hike combines a route through the landscape with views of the surrounding regions.

Bus route 31 runs from Koblenz Central Station to Burgen. The Burgen Marktplatz stop is very close to the starting point of the Ortsbachpädche. If you are travelling by bus, check the timetable for your travel date before setting off. The Ortsbachpfad is a named circular route; the hiking trails around Burgen also connect natural and cultural landscapes with historic sights, and offer opportunities to discover the local flora and fauna.

Cultural attractions in the wider destination of Mayen-Koblenz

The wider destination of Mayen-Koblenz also offers a variety of historical and museum themes. Genovevaburg is one of Mayen’s landmarks and was built in 1280 by Heinrich von Finstingen, Archbishop of Trier. In Mendig, the Lava-Dome is the German Volcano Museum. In five exhibition areas, it explains how the world’s highest cold-water geyser works. These examples focus on different subjects: the history of a castle and the interpretation of a natural phenomenon.

Sayner Hütte is an anchor point on the European Route of Industrial Heritage and the only monument in Rhineland-Palatinate to receive this distinction. Following restoration, modern exhibitions and multimedia presentations invite visitors to explore; guided tours and creative workshops are also offered. Sayn Abbey adds a church-history perspective to this selection: it was founded around 1200, and its abbey church was consecrated in 1202. The abbey’s exterior paintings, dating from around 1255, are considered the best-preserved of the High Middle Ages in Germany.

Discover more destinations: Lehmen.

Back to the overview of destinations: Kobern-Gondorf.