Iterbachtour - cream slices for hiking

When Benedict of Aniane was commissioned by the emperor in 814 to choose an area for the foundation of a monastery, he chose a real gem: the region of Kornelimünster at the confluence of the rivers Inde and Iter offered attractive conditions for securing future abbey income. The richness of the forests, the usable flowing waters, and the ore deposits were all enticing factors. Conveniently, the Romans had already utilized all of this, cultivating the landscape and establishing an early network of roads.

Today, the Iter Valley presents itself as a real gem for hiking and enjoying nature. On picturesque paths, we discover the freely flowing stream, walk across lush meadows and through bushes. From the valley heights, we enjoy the panoramic views over the gently rolling meadows and hedgerow landscape of the Münsterländchen and pass by the outskirts of Walheim.

The quiet, secluded nature reserve hardly reveals that in the times of early industrialization, the hammers were pounding here. As the Eifel iron industry evolved into the cradle of industrialization, an ironworks and a hammer mill were also established in the Iter Valley in the 1780s. In the outskirts of the settlements, shovels, plows, pots, ovens, and rollers were produced. The necessary resources were readily available on-site: the iron ore came from a neighboring mine, charcoal from the surrounding forests fueled the blast furnace, and the Iter river powered the waterwheel with the hammer that shaped the iron plates into sheets. The blast furnace of Schmithof, at 10 meters, was the highest and most productive in the area. The building complex of the ironworks further upstream is still preserved to this day. We pass by the hammer mill on our hike; the buildings no longer exist, but the damp depression called "Die Pletsch" suggests a former millpond.

Further mill sites can be found along the way. At the little bridge at the beginning of the hike, where the Iter flows into the Inde, stood the Goldmühle, where attempts at gold panning are said to have taken place. High above at 22 meters, a Vennbahn viaduct has spanned the Iterbach since 1885.

A bit further upstream, the buildings of the Königsmühle have been preserved. Their water wheels moved millstones instead of hammers. Dating back to 1525 in the earliest documents, it operated as an oil mill until 1928.

Highlights along the route:
1. Kornelimünster, historical town center, former imperial abbey, St. Kornelius Provost Church
2. Vennbahn Iterbach Viaduct
3. Itertal Nature Reserve
4. Königsmühle