Bergheim walks

The long-distance hiking trail opens up the Königsforst, the southern Bergisches Land, leads through the Westerwald to the monasteries of Marienthal and Marienstatt and into the Kroppacher Schweiz, one of the most charming areas of the Westerwald. We hike through Hachenburg and the Hoher Westerwald and reach the highest point of the Cologne Trail at 567 metres on the Marienberger Höhe. An impressive basalt park near Bad Marienberg and the Stöffel Tertiary Industry Adventure Park near Stockum-Püschen explain the importance of basalt mining. We will be transported to the unique cultural landscape of the Westerwald Lake District near Dreifelden and pass through Metteshahner Schweiz to Neustadt (Wied). On the last section, we will hike to the Drachenfels and Königswinter.

Königsforst is the name of the stop where tram line 9 ends in Cologne-Rath-Heumar, and this is where the Cologne Trail begins. The markings for the Cologne Trail, a white K on a black mirror, which we see for the first time at this point, will guide us safely through the southern Bergisches Land and the Westerwald for 253 kilometres to Königswinter. We first stroll through a park-like landscape, then through unspoilt forest. On wide, gently ascending paths, we pass a water treading pool, the Kaisereiche oak tree and cross the former Bensberg-Rösrath railway line, hiking through the quiet Wahlbach valley until we reach Lehmbach and Sülze via the Tütberg.

The hike takes you on a long tour of the Obersee, the central part of the Rursee complex, which consists of three stepped lakes and three dams. The Obersee is located between the Urftsee and the Rursee itself.Located in the heart of the Eifel National Park, the Rursee guarantees magnificent landscapes. In addition to lakes and forests, this hike takes you through moorland to the ghost village of Wollseifen, with its St. Roch Church and school museum.Located near the large Nazi elite training centre in Volgelsang, Wollseifen was heavily damaged by bombing during the Second World War and then completely razed by the British army to make way, just after the war, for the Vogelsang military training camp, which,since the withdrawal of British and then Belgian troops from Germany, has been converted into a memorial centre.