High trail in the Ahrgebirge from Altenahr

A challenging hike with four kilometers of alpine paths in Altenahr is a small wine paradise #WeAhrOpen

The Ahr Valley, the small wine paradise of the Eifel

Nature lovers looking for breathtaking and challenging hiking experiences can indulge themselves in the German Altenahr. The small village in Rhineland-Palatinate is located along the Ahr, 60 kilometers from the Belgian border.

This varied and demanding route winds through the gentle hills of the Eifel and offers spectacular views of the vineyards that extend along the steep slopes. During your hike, you will pass beautiful spots by the Ahr and crisp ascents with demanding paths over the various ridges along a "not altitude-sensitive" alpine trail. In short, a perfect mix of nature, adventure, and adrenaline.

If you want to take a break during your walk, you can enjoy a glass of local wine while taking in the beautiful vineyards and surrounding landscape. This wine region is known for its red grape variety Spätburgunder, but also Frühburgunder, Portugieser & Domina – or the white grape variety Riesling – and it is among the smallest wine regions in Germany.

In addition to hiking and wine tasting, there are other activities in Altenahr and its surroundings. You can bike through the vast forests, climb a treetop course, zoom down the 550-meter-long summer toboggan run, or visit the ruins of the Are Castle, a medieval castle built in the 12th century, which can still be visited today and is located on our marked hiking trail. After the conclusion of the second part of the high trail.

In the past, it was possible to kayak there and there were numerous dining establishments along the beautiful banks of the Ahr, but this area was also severely affected by heavy floods (July 2021), which caused significant damage. The local community has since worked hard to repair the damage and return to normalcy, but it is still evident that there is much work to be done. By hiking again in the affected regions and consuming locally, I hope to contribute to the recovery of these beautiful regions like here in the Eifel, but also in the Belgian Ardennes and the High Fens.

Sights along the way:

Kreuzberg, is part of the municipality of Altenahr and is also located in the Ahr Valley. The history of this town dates back to 893 and belonged to the Prüm Abbey.

The Kreuzberg Castle is a castle on a rock outcrop from the 18th century and the only inhabited castle in the Ahr Valley. The castle domain is not accessible, except for the chapel.

Some tributaries of the Ahr such as Sahrbach & Vischelbach

Altenburg is a district of Altenahr and is located about 175m above sea level. Situated in a broad meander of the Ahr, which winds around the castle rock, it was greatly affected by the flooding in July 2021 in the Ahr Valley.

Mayschoß is a district of Altenahr but has had an independent existence since 1106 under the name Meinscozen. This center was also affected by the floods in the summer of 2021 and is no longer accessible by train.

The viewpoints Engelsley, Zwergenloch and Teufelsloch can only be reached via the demanding alpine paths.

The Ahr Mountains are at an elevation of about 620 m above sea level and are 25 km long. They are part of the Eifel, which is a low mountain range. Together with the Ahr Valley, it is part of the nature reserve Ahreifel and lies between Blankenheim, Bad Münstereifel, Ahrweiler, and Adenau.

Altenahr belongs to the district Ahrweiler in Rhineland-Palatinate and maintains city partnerships with the Belgian municipality of Sint-Pieters-Leeuw. The municipality has been located since 893 on the northeastern edge of the Ahr Mountains and has been repeatedly affected by floods. The last flood caused the storm Bernd to rise between 5.75 m and 9.84 m. The damages are still visible, and several bridges are still closed.

The Are Castle is a monumental ruin on a hill and at the end of the high trail. It was built between 1095 and 1105 on the orders of Count Dietrich I of Are. Since 1999, repairs have been ongoing to make the ruin publicly accessible.

The vineyards of the Ahr are one of the smallest wine-growing areas in Germany. About 87% are designated for red wine and 13% for white wine, with Spätburgunder being the most important grape variety of this region.

The Ahr is the river that has shaped this region. With a length of 86 km, this river springs from the Eifel at an elevation of 474m in the center of Blankenheim to flow through this Ahr Mountains to the Rhine. The Ahr is mostly a fast-flowing river, where besides wine production, there are also tourist cycling paths and the Ahrsteig.