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Start: Sülzer Burg bus stop
(S) We begin our hike in Rösrath – in the district of Sülze at the Sülzer Burg bus stop, follow the K on the L284 for about 100 metres and then turn right into Hausacker street. After another 80 metres, keep left at the fork and walk uphill until you reach a small forest on the right.
(1) Here, the K turns right up the steep slope and leads to a wide cross path. There, we turn right again. On our way uphill, we notice slag heaps on the left, evidence of former mining at Lüderich. With a little luck, you may find galena crystals or azurite.
The path climbs steadily, eventually turning left at a crossroads and continuing uphill. While the route was initially lined with coniferous forest, we now walk through deciduous forest.
(2) Shortly before the summit of the 260-metre-high Lüderich, the path turns left at a fork and leads in a wide arc around the summit. Before Bleifeld, a path turns right towards Franziska-Schacht.
(3) However, we continue a little further and turn right at a signpost and, after a few steps, turn half right again onto a small path that soon leads us through bushy terrain to the aforementioned path.
(4) A little later, we come to another crossroads, turn left and are led to the Franziska-Schacht.
The winding towers of the Franziska Shaft and the main shaft above Steinenbrück are the last visible reminders of the almost two thousand years of mining history at Lüderich, which came to an end in 1978. The Romans were already mining lead and silver ore at Lüderich in the 1st century AD. Medieval mining has been documented at various sites in the 13th century. Mining is first mentioned in documents in 1518. The history of the Franziska Shaft began relatively late, in 1892, when it was sunk to a depth of 237.4 metres as the fourth shaft of the Lüderich mine and connected to the central and main shafts. In 1950, the rich "Hangender Sommer" deposit was discovered, which yielded 5 million tonnes of ore. However, mining at the Franziska Shaft was discontinued in 1954.
(5) From the Franziska shaft, the path runs through an oak forest, narrows to a trail and descends steadily downhill. When we reach Hover Weg, we turn right.
(6) We gradually approach Rösrath-Hoffnungsthal and pass the outdoor swimming pool a little later. After a few steps, we come to Rotdornallee, where we turn left and walk 50 metres along Rotdornallee, passing a car park. On the other side of the road, the former fire station catches the eye, now a primary school. If you would like to make a detour to the town centre, continue along Rotdornallee until you reach Hofferhoferstraße, turn right there and walk to the main road.
The origins of the village's more than 1,100-year history lie in the former Volberg, which was initially located on the Forsbach heights and later expanded into the Sülz valley. Volberg was first mentioned in 893. The town got its current name, Hoffnungsthal, at the beginning of the 19th century. The name Volberg has only survived in a street name and in the name of the Protestant church in Volberg.
The present church, built in 1788/89, still contains some elements of the previous Romanesque church from the 12th century. The oldest parts are the basement of the church tower, the apse of the original church and a Romanesque baptismal font in the apse. Since the Reformation in the 16th century, the church has served as a Protestant place of worship.
Also worth seeing are three villas built by the Reusch family of manufacturers on the main street: Villa Longrée from 1864 (Hauptstraße 314), Villa Kurt Reusch (Hauptstraße 312) from 1894 and Villa Wilhelm Reusch (Hauptstraße 310) from 1896.
We continue our hike towards Hofferhof by turning left at the end of the car park onto a path. We walk along the swimming pool on the left and cross Bleifelder Straße, then the Cologne-Marienheide railway line, turn left for a few metres into Hofferhoferstraße and immediately (behind house no. 27) left again into Stöcker Weg. At the end of the Bergsegen cul-de-sac, we see a sports field on the left.
The name Bergsegen is reminiscent of the former mine of the same name, which was opened in 1853 on the site of today's sports club. Between 1853 and 1881, 292,434 hundredweight of zinc blende and 4,081 hundredweight of lead ore were mined. At the end of the century, operations were discontinued.
(7) The path leads steeply uphill and meets a crossroad called Brünsbacher Weg on the left and Stöcker Weg on the right. We continue to the right on Stöcker Weg and, after a left-hand bend, reach Unterstöcken, which we quickly walk through. At the end of the village, a beautiful half-timbered house catches the eye on the right. Behind the house, we turn right, walk along a field and towards the K23, which we cross.
(8) A narrow path takes us to the village of Hofferhof, where we turn left. After a few metres, we reach the Hoffer Alter grain distillery.
In 1880, Ewald Müllenbach founded a grain distillery as a sideline to his farming business in a 300-year-old half-timbered house. The company is still family-owned today. Products from the distillery can be purchased in a shop.
We soon leave the tiny village, walk along Hofferhof street until we reach In der Schneekaule street, turn right and arrive in Lüghausen.
(9) We turn left onto Lüghauser Straße and then left again onto Großhecker Weg.
(10) We then reach Kupfersiefen.
The former mill was completely renovated in 1991/92 and now serves as a seminar centre. With the exception of the mill cellar, the original buildings no longer exist. It is not currently possible to stop for refreshments. In 1783, Elector Karl Theodor granted a licence to build a grinding mill on the Kupfersiefer Bach stream. In the 19th century, the Rudolphus mine was located near the mill. About 100 metres behind the mill, a 300-metre-long shaft was driven into the Lüghauser Berg. Due to the low yield of galena and copper pyrite, operations were discontinued at the beginning of the 20th century.
Behind the Kupfersiefer Mill, the path leads to the right into the valley of the Kupfersiefer Bach. A quiet valley welcomes hikers; in spring, the splendour of the primroses blooming along the stream is a surprise.
Soon we reach a small bridge over the Kupfersiefer Bach, over which our path leads to the left. We then climb steeply uphill on a narrow path and, after several hairpin bends, reach an asphalt crossroad.
(12) Continue right on the quiet road to Georgshof. Turn right. Finally, you will reach Schönrather Straße, where you can admire an impressive pine tree (natural monument) on your right.
(13) We have reached Oberschönrath, turn right onto Schönrather Straße and continue along it towards Rambrücken. Before a right-hand bend, we continue straight ahead on an asphalt path, which offers a magnificent panoramic view.
(14) Later, we reach Rodderhof and walk past half-timbered houses. Then we descend into the Gammersbach valley and turn left to the Gammersbach mill.
The mill was mentioned in the Lohmar baptismal register in 1688 as "Jammersbacher Müllen" and is now a listed building. The mill's grinding mechanism and the iron mill wheel driven by the Gammersbach are still well preserved. The mill is a popular destination for excursions.
(15) A narrow path leads from the Gammersbacher Mühle to the small half-timbered village of Muchensiefen, where many of the houses date back to the 17th century.
(16) At house number 4, we turn left into the street Am Schlagbaum and after a few steps turn left into the street Schönau, which we then follow to the right.
(17) Soon we reach the L84 at a crossroads dating from 1868, where we turn right. We do not stay on this road for long, but turn left onto a dirt track just before the Hagerhof, which is on the right. A little later, we stroll along the tranquil, tree-lined path towards the Aggertal valley and after a while reach a campsite where we can stop for refreshments at the Treffpunkt restaurant.
(18) From there, it is not far to the B484 and the Kreuznaaf bus stop (S), where this section of the hike ends. The VRS bus line 557 runs here. Overnight accommodation is available in Lohmar or Wahlscheid.
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Tourist office
