Kelberger Wanderlust - Rundweg Kelberger Episoden

Passing by traces of the region’s agricultural and forestry heritage—such as the “pasture cooperative”—combined with culture, myths, and legends—all brought together in a loop trail through the beautiful Vulkaneifel.

Kelberg Episodes – A 10-kilometer loop trail leads past the remnants of former agricultural and forestry practices, such as the juniper heath, intertwined with legends and myths like those of the Plague Cross and the miraculous Pietà.

Kelberg is best known for its History Trail, which tells stories of ancient trees, burial mounds, and milestones. I’ll write about that in another post. The Kelberg Episodes, which were just unveiled this spring along with the Kelberg Panoramas, turn out to be the perfect complement to the History Trail, with some stops appearing on both routes.

One shared stop, for example, is the parish church of St. Vincent, which stands like a fortress in the center of town and thus automatically becomes a striking landmark along the hike.

In the village, both trails—the “Episodes” and the “Panorama Trail”—run together. It’s well worth walking through the village with your eyes open and your senses alert. There are quite a few beautiful and lovingly restored historic buildings to see.

At the edge of town, the two trails split; the Kelberg Episodes lead almost immediately to the Way of the Cross on the Schwarzenberg. Fourteen neo-Gothic station images with beautiful depictions as sandstone reliefs line this scenic path. The Way of the Cross is also Station 2 of the “Around the Hochkelberg” History Trail. It was dedicated on April 18, 1864—Good Friday.

The route continues above the Trierbach to the district of Zermüllen. We pass the juniper heath on the Müllenberg. On the Müllenberg stands “The Old Oak,” designated a natural monument since 1940.

From Zermüllen, the trail now leads along beautiful meadow and forest paths above and along the Krumbach to the lookout point on the Jeckelsberg.

From Surbüsch, we now follow the course of the Herrenseifen stream briskly back to the center of Kelberg, where we conclude our hike near the Kelberg Tourist Information Office. All in all, a very rewarding hike that, in addition to the scenic beauty, also offers a wealth of insights into the history, legends, and culture of the region around the Hochkelberg.