Moselsteig Side Trail Briedeler Schweiz

The Side Trail into the Briedeler Schweiz starts at the Balduinsplatz and first takes you into the village to the main road. The Sündstraße takes you uphill below the church and cemetery at the outskirts of the town. One more turn and you reach the edge of the forest and the start of the cross path (Kreuzweg). In the forest, the narrow path leads steeply uphill, accompanied by a few stations of the cross path. Then the Side Trail turns off the cross path and continues, less steeply, through the forest slope. Soon you have reached the viewing point, the Hindenburglay. Here, not only the beautiful view from the front rocks to the Moselle Valley invites you to stay, but also the filigree pavilion is a wonderful place for a short rest.

The ascent is not quite done yet. First the tour takes you on a path slightly uphill for a short section and then without much differences in height through the tree-covered slope. Interesting slate rocks to the left and right of the path attract the eye. After a last steep climb, you have reached the saddle. From here, a detour branches off to the Beinter Kopf. The flat path over the ridge is quickly managed. An information board tells you all about the history of this place, where a Roman mountain sanctuary used to stand. Rest areas, benches and a mountain hut offer you lots of opportunities to take a refreshing break. You should definitely go on to the rock edge, the view of the Moselle and Zell is one of the most beautiful here!

After the way back to the saddle, it's time for the second part of the climb. The path winds steeply up to the ridge. Hiking through the rocks it's not difficult to understand how the name of this Moselsteig Side Trail – Briedeler Schweiz – came about. At the end of the uphill passage, the path ends and continues to the "Schöne Aussicht" (Beautiful View) – which is breathtaking. From here, at a height of almost 400 metres, you will not only have a view of the Moselle Valley; the panorama view actually stretches far into the Eifel (in good weather right to the Nürburgring). The open mountain hut and other rest facilities are great to take another rest. You have now managed the climb and almost half of the way. Over the 0.4 km access route you can reach the Bummkopf parking area, which is also a suitable entry point into the circular trail.

A little more relaxed, hike the flat forest path which takes you to the Wilhelmshöhe viewing point. This is the perfect place for you if you prefer a sunny space for a rest. The view of the city district of Barl on the opposite plateau is impressive. Gaze along the Moselle to the left, and you will see Briedel down below and a little further on the other side of the Moselle, at the top, the Marienburg. You are so high up that you can look across the Marienburg saddle right to Bullay and see the further course of the Moselle towards St. Aldegund. After a few minutes further through the forest you reach the Sündhaus, a small chapel in an idyllic location, which is also the final station of the cross path, which the Side Trail follows for a short stretch at the beginning.

This path takes you to the nearby road, but immediately leaves it again and then runs along the edge of the forest, which time and again offers views of the Hunsrück high plateau. The descent starts at a well-kept forest path. First, you follow the small stream valley and then change to a slope path, which ends steeply downhill at a rest area at the outskirts of Briedel. Via the Kaiserlay (resting place with hut) you reach the point at the cross path which you already know from the beginning of the trail. From here you hike steeply downhill to the village and back to the starting point, the Balduinsplatz.

B 53 between Zell and Traben-Trarbach

Parking facilities along the Moselstraße, directly adjoining the starting point Balduinsplatz. Other entry possibilities: P Bummkopf and P Sündhaus (both on the K 52)

Bus line 333 (Bullay – Bernkastel-Kues), stop Briedel B 53 (from the stop it's only a few meters along the Moselstraße to the starting point at the Balduinsplatz)

Literature (only available in German):

"Seitensprünge Band 2" - 17 Premium-Rundwanderungen von Bernkastel-Kues bis Koblenz von ideemedia

Authors: Ulrike Poller, Wolfgang Todt, Publisher: ideemedia, 160 pages, Format: 11,0 x 16,4 cm, ISBN: 978-3-942779-60-9, 12,95 €

Leisure Map Moselsteig Trail – Map 2: Trier - Zell (Moselle) (Stages 5 - 14), ISBN: 978-3-89637-420-2

Mosellandtouristik GmbH

Kordelweg 1, 54470 Bernkastel-Kues; Phone: +49 (6531) / 97330

www.moselsteig.de

Zeller Land Tourismus GmbH, Tourist information office

Balduinstraße 44, 56856 Zell (Mosel); Phone: +49 (6542) / 96220

www.zellerland.de