Lehmen: Vineyards, Hiking Trails and Culture on the Moselle

Lehmen combines hiking trails through steep vineyards with a landscape shaped by winegrowing and individual reminders of the village’s history. When planning your trip, choosing the right route is especially important: the Würzlaysteig is an 11.3-kilometre linear themed trail, part of the Mosel.Erlebnis.Route, from Lehmen to Löf. The trail is accessible via the railway stations in Lehmen, Kattenes and Löf.

Hiking Trails and Routes

A more challenging section of the Würzlaysteig is the 2.7-kilometre northern stretch between Lehmen and the Ausoniusstein above the steep vineyards. Depending on your fitness, allow around 1.5 to 2.5 hours. A good head for heights, sure-footedness and stamina are required; this section is less suitable for children under eight. This information helps put the short distance in perspective: it should not be mistaken for an easy walk.

For a shorter glimpse of the vineyard landscape, try the vineyard discovery trail in the Razejungewingert: the approximately 280-metre circular route passes information boards about features of the vineyard. These include dry-stone walls as habitats, as well as butterflies and reptiles. Members of the Lehmer Razejunge created the project for children on a voluntary basis; however, the trail is not described as being exclusively for children. From the car park at the Lehmen lock on the B 416, reach the trail via a signposted footpath of about 500 metres. Check the car park and signs on site for any temporary changes.

A longer hiking option is the 100-kilometre Schoppenstecher circular hiking trail. It runs on both sides of the Moselle through steep vineyards, wooded heights and wine villages between Koblenz and Treis-Karden. In Lehmen, sights include the Klosterberg viewpoint, the Moselle barrage, the bell tower and the Ausoniusstein viewpoint. Here, the trail passes, among other places, the 12th-century bell tower.

Winegrowing and Cultural Landscape

Lehmen is a winegrowing community with 23 hectares of planted vineyard area today. Around 80 percent is devoted to white wine varieties and 20 percent to red wine varieties. Riesling is the dominant grape variety in the five vineyard sites of Moselsürscher Fahrberg, Lehmener Ausoniusstein, Lehmener Klosterberg, Lehmener Würzlay and Lehmener Lay. The Lehmener Würzlay is one of 30 designated historic winegrowing landscapes along the Moselle and stretches from the southern edge of the village to the Ausoniusstein nature reserve towards Kattenes.

In the Würzlay, the Lehmer Razejunge look after their own vineyard, vineyard terraces, dry-stone walls and small habitats on the steep slopes. They also introduce children and young people to winegrowing in the cultural landscape of the terraced Moselle. Biological diversity is concentrated in the Razejungewingert; rare species found there include the red-winged grasshopper, the Apollo butterfly and the European honey buzzard.

Nature and Views at the Ausoniusstein

The Lehmener Würzlay provides a habitat for rare species found in the Moselle vineyards, including the rock bunting, common wall lizard, smooth snake and red-winged grasshopper. Numerous day- and night-flying moths and butterflies can also be observed there. The Würzlaysteig runs through the valleys of the Ausoniusstein nature reserve, the Katteneser Mühlental, the Kehrbachtal and the Alsbachtal, offering glimpses of the local flora and fauna.

From the Ausoniusstein viewpoint, the view stretches across the Moselle Valley and towards Oberfell, Kattenes and Alken. There is also a former slate mine here, where Moselle slate was extracted until the 1930s. The spot thus brings together views of the landscape and a reminder of the area’s former mining activity.

Bell Tower and Lehmen Linden Tree

The small, unornamented bell tower, with one bell, at St Kastor’s Church has been a listed monument since 1980. Another landmark is the Lehmen linden tree, high above the village and right beside the L 82. A wayside shrine built in 1759 stands next to the tree. The linden is estimated to be 300 to 320 years old and has been protected as a natural monument since 1937.

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