Kleinich: Circular Walk and Church History

The Moselsteig Seitensprung Tälertour gives Kleinich a clear focus for a hiking stay: the circular route brings together open plateaus, wooded stream valleys, water and distinctive rock formations. The prominent church is another highlight, with a history dating back to 1318; Roman finds even suggest that an ancient place of worship may once have stood here. If you are weighing up the length of a hike against your interest in history as you plan your trip, Kleinich offers some concrete points to consider.

The Kirchspiel’s Tälertour

The Moselsteig Seitensprung “Kirchspiel’s Tälertour” is a 13.1-kilometre, moderately difficult circular hike. It starts and ends at the small parking area by the Protestant church in Kleinich; the stated duration is around 4.5 hours. The information on distance, duration and difficulty makes it easier to assess whether to include a hike of several hours in your stay. Before setting out, check the provider’s latest route information.

The route connects open plateaus with wooded stream valleys and flowing water. Its landscape features include quartzite blocks, the Bildstein rock formation, entrances to slate caves and the remains of a mill. The quartzite and Bildstein give the hike distinctive rock formations, while the mill remains add traces of earlier use. In this way, natural features and a relic of human activity appear side by side in the same route description.

Getting there and provisions along the way

The starting and finishing point is at the small parking area by the Protestant church. The route information recommends travelling by car; bus services to the settlements in the Kirchspiel are limited. There are no places to stop for food or supplies along the hike, so bring provisions. Check local travel information before setting off and the route provider’s latest updates before hiking.

Church history and Roman finds

The prominent church has been documented since 1318. The surviving bell tower was incorporated into a replacement building erected by 1790. This brings together the early written record and a later phase of construction in which the tower was retained. Roman finds discovered during a demolition also suggest that an ancient place of worship may once have stood here. This possible interpretation adds a more distant, though uncertain, past to the documented church history.

More to explore in the wider destination of Bernkastel-Wittlich

The wider destination of Bernkastel-Wittlich brings together the volcanic Eifel, the Moselle Valley and the Hunsrück, rich in forests and meadows. The 816-metre-high Erbeskopf is a hiking destination and offers a variety of winter sports. At the Erbeskopf, the National Park Gate provides information about nature and the environment; its interactive multimedia exhibition focuses on forests and moors. Another hike in the wider destination is the Manderscheider Burgenstieg: this moderately difficult circular route around the castles of Manderscheid is 5.4 kilometres long and is listed as taking two hours. Two medieval castle ruins stand opposite each other on steep mountain spurs above the Lieser. By comparison, the Tälertour in Kleinich, at 13.1 kilometres and around 4.5 hours, is longer; both routes are moderately difficult.

Discover more destinations: Brauneberg, Papiermühle, Veldenz, Graach An Der Mosel, Burgen, Ürzig, Lösnich and Andel.

Go to the wider travel overview: Bernkastel-Kues.