The chasms, caves and crevices of Berdorf

Car park after the Berdorf Aquatower.

Signposting B5

(S/E) At the Berdorf civil engineering building on your right, take the paved road opposite the car park and head into the forest. At the crossroads at the edge of the forest, continue straight ahead. The road becomes a dirt track between meadows and fields. Enter the forest.

Without signposts

(1) At the next crossroads, turn right and follow this forest track without any intersections. After 800m, a path joins you on the left and the path turns right. Descend near the stream, cross the ford and start climbing to reach the edge of the road. Cross with caution and continue climbing on the wide path opposite. At the fork, continue straight ahead.

Signpost B13

A path joins you on the right and a multiple junction follows shortly afterwards.

(2) Follow the path on the left to reach the Binzeltschluff viewpoint. Then take the footbridge and go down the stairs.

Signpost B5

At the crossroads, continue straight ahead. At the end of the bend, after the tree with the inscriptions "M Rouge, B5, W3", take the path on your right that climbs up the embankment.

(3) Keep going diagonally and look for the tree with the inscription S1 circled among the trees near the rock walls. This will reveal the entrance to a small crack. Go between the walls, follow the path and go down the steps. At the bottom, turn right. Continue along the path and go down more steps.

(4) At a slight fork on your right, take the uphill path. At the top, you will find a Bildchen, a place of contemplation in the middle of the forest. Retrace your steps to the main path and continue to the right. After a few more steps and a little further on, you will see a path on your right leading to the Cave of Hell. You can visit it if you wish. Then continue along the path towards the crossroads.

No signposts

(5) Head towards the bridge, cross it and take the stairs on the right towards the Roitzbach plateau. Climb the ladder. At the fork, turn right. Continue to the viewpoint. Retrace your steps and turn right at the fork. Follow the numbers painted on the rock 2, 3, 4, then choose 5 (or 6 if it is really too narrow for you) to pass through the Roitsbach Gorge.

At the end of gorge 5, turn right and continue to the end of gorge 6. Go down the stairs on your left to the Repère des Brigands. Enter the cave; a torch is essential. Get down on all fours to pass under the rock blocking the passage; don't worry, you'll be able to stand up again quickly as the path continues. Climb the ladders to the Eagle's Nest. Head towards Devil's Island and ignore the stairs going up or down. When you have no other choice, take the steps on your right. At the crossroads, go up to the left. Cross the footbridge. This is Devil's Island.

(6) Retrace your steps and head straight left. Go down and pass the cave called "La Morgue" (the morgue), rejoin the trail and signpost B2.

Marker B2

Pass the Heroldt rocks. Turn right if you want to go over the rock, otherwise continue straight ahead. At the bottom of the stairs, go slightly down the forest path on your left and take the stairs almost opposite. A path joins you on the left. Continue straight ahead. A trail joins you on the right. Continue straight ahead until you reach the start of the climbing site. Cross the footbridge and continue.

(7) At the crossroads, turn right into the seven gorges. On the rock, you will see an inscription saying "entrée" (entrance): climb up to number 1 and begin your tour of the seven gorges by following the numbers painted on the rock. When you return to the crossroads, continue straight ahead along the path. Further on, turn left. Climb the steps and continue to the Casselt viewpoint. Leave the B2 signpost and go down the steps on your left.

Green triangle signpost

(8) At the bottom of the steps, turn left towards Grundhoff. Follow the winding path downhill. At the bottom, turn right. When you reach a wide path, continue and leave the forest. The path becomes a road.

(9) At the three trees with a bench underneath, turn right and descend between the hedges of the meadows until you pass the bridge. Follow the road to the right.

(10) At number 8, cross carefully and start climbing the stairs next to it. At the crossroads, go straight ahead and at the next one, do the same. A path joins you on your right, continue straight ahead. Climb the stairs between two rocks.

(11) Join a forest path and continue to the left. After a little less than 800 metres straight ahead, you will come to an intersection.

(12) On the left, a path leads to the Kipligay viewpoint. View of the Aquatower. Retrace your steps and follow the path that quickly turns right. Go down and at the fork, turn left. Then go down the steps to the car park. Cross with caution. Continue downhill.

(13) Cross the small bridge. At the fork, turn right. At the junction with the forest path, continue straight ahead to the Hallerbaach stream.

Red markings on a white background

Head left and go downhill, with the stream on your right. Leave the forest behind you and the Hallerbaach stream will recede. The trail continues between hedgerows and meadows until it reaches the road. Turn left.

No markings

Go up the road to the junction with a busier road, which you follow to the next junction. Turn right and cross the bridge.

(14) At the junction with the road to Berdorf, look for the steps behind the log bench. Go up, cross the road again, taking care. Go around the barrier and continue straight ahead on this wide forest path. At the fork, turn right and after 350m of a nice climb, look for the path on the left going up the embankment. It is a downhill bike trail, and tracks should help you spot it. If you miss it, the fallen tree with a fluorescent pink arrow blocking the forest path a little higher up will force you to turn back.

(15) Go up this path, which turns sharply to the left. At the crossroads, continue to the right.

Red markings on a white background

(3) Go straight ahead and at the next junction, continue to the right and go down the steps. Pass between the rocks, continue to the road and cross it. In the car park, you will see Predigtstull. Head towards the steps between the rocks. Climb the steps. Ignore the steps on your left unless you want to visit Werschrummschluff and have more fun in the crevices. At the top, when the walls widen, leave the stairs and head towards the barrier. When you reach it, continue to the right and go down the path. Halfway down the slope, turn left and start a long path with no intersections made of steps and rocky passages.

Signpost: Yellow cross on a blue background

At the first intersection, go up to the left. Higher up, keep to the left and continue climbing.

(1) Take the path you took on the way up on your right and follow it to the car park (S/E).

Allow an extra hour if you want to explore all the crevices, caves and gorges at your leisure.

A torch or headlamp is essential.

There is no drinking water along the route.

Waterproof shoes with good grip are necessary as the ground is very slippery due to leaves on the rocks and humidity.

Not suitable for claustrophobic individuals. However, at (5), you can bypass the entire area by following the B2 markings and rejoining the trail after (6).

At (5), the route begins between crevices, gorges, caves and grottos. The Visorando trail will probably not be available. Follow the signs, everything is very well marked.

On the way back, if you still want to have some fun in the crevices, at Predigtstull, after starting to climb the stairs, take the Werschrummschluff steps on your left and follow the white arrows on a blue background. You will rejoin the trail at the barrier at the end of the route.

Benches: at the Binzeltschluff viewpoint, at the climbing site, at (9), during the ascent after (10)

Shelter: on the Roitzbach plateau, in the car park between (12) and (13).

From October to December, please enquire about hunting. Dates of battues

During
The Hell Cave: 55 m deep
The Roitzbach plateau
The Roitzbach Gorges
The Brigands' hideout
The Eagle's Nest
Devil's Island
The Morgue
The Seven Gorges
The climbing site

Viewpoints: Binzeltschluff, Casselt, Kipligay

in Luxembourgish, "Bildchen" refers to a place dedicated to the Virgin Mary. This "Bildchen" is a statue of the "Mater Dolorosa" placed in a niche carved into the rock by young men from Berdorf who were forcibly conscripted into the German army during the Second World War. This was done as an act of thanksgiving to the Blessed Mother for their return from the torments they experienced either in the war or in concentration camps.

Predigtstull: a rock in the shape of a face overlooking the road. It is possible to climb it.

Werschrummschluff: a maze right next to Predigtstull. Follow the white arrows on a blue background.

If you have to choose, opt for the Werschrummschlüff maze rather than the view from Predigtstull, as the climb up the stairs is not really worth the effort.

Nearby
Aquatower in Berdorf: view of the region from a height of 55 metres. Exhibition on water.