Water - Wool - Slate stones

The starting and ending point of the tour is the Tuchmacherbrunnen (18) on the marketplace in Monschau. It displays various steps of fine cloth production from the 18th century when fabrics were still painstakingly made by hand. At that time, Monschau was a significant center of wool fabric production in Europe. From the marketplace, the path leads hikers up to the Sonntagsley. Here, there is a beautiful view over the slate-covered houses of the Monschau Old Town. The route continues through the Kurpark towards Burgau, where the last textile company in Monschau, the Rheinische Wollwerke, closed its doors in 1983. The path leaves Monschau and leads up to the Engelsley with a magnificent view over the Rur and Perlenbachtal valleys. Below the "Ley" (slate rocks), slate was once mined underground. The path descends steeply into the Perlenbachtal to the Dreistegen weir with a canal that in the 19th century directed water to a turbine in the artificial wool factory of Alexander Scheibler. Past a campsite, the path leads through the idyllic Perlbachtal, which showcases the characteristic vegetation of the slope debris forest. Various moss and fern species can be discovered here, and occasionally, the dipper bird can be seen diving in the stream for food. Passing by Hotel Perlenau, a former wool washing and dyeing mill, the path continues to the Perlbachtalsperre, which has been supplying the Monschau region with drinking water since 1953. On a rocky outcrop high above the reservoir, the "Eifelsteigliege" invites hikers to take a break. Shortly after, the hiker can shorten the circuit by turning left and following the "Eifelsteig" uphill to the Nationalparktor in Höfen. Continuing straight on an old cart track, now a road connecting Höfen and Kalterherberg, lies the Höfener Mühle built in 1805. The valleys of Fuhrtsbach and Perlbach are ancient cultural landscapes. These valuable habitats provide a home for numerous rare animal and plant species. In spring, thousands of wild daffodils transform the valley meadows into a yellow sea of flowers, and in summer, the aromatic valerian can be found here. Before the path leaves the Fuhrtsbachtal again, it reaches the southernmost part of the Eifel National Park. Since 2004, the motto here has been "Let nature be nature." On around 11,000 hectares, nature is strictly protected and can only be accessed on designated paths. Now it's up to Höfen. In the Alzen district, tall house protection hedges welcome hikers. The hedges of the Monschauer Heckenland, mostly planted with European beech and cut like green walls, protect the old half-timbered houses from the weather. The Bundesgolddorf Höfen still has many characteristic half-timbered houses. In the Haus Seebend, visitors can explore the exhibition "Buchenhecken und Narzissentäler" of the German-Belgian Nature Park Hohes Venn-Eifel. Soon, the Weaving Museum Höfen will also be opened there. Hikers should not miss the Nationalparktor Höfen. In the old dairy, visitors will find not only an exhibition on the Eifel National Park but also a tourist information center and a bistro. The route continues through Weiherstraße past old farmhouses that tell the story of past generations and are now lovingly restored. The "Alter Weg" leads back to Monschau, where in the 17th century, at a roadblock called Grindel, access to the city of Monschau was controlled. Passing by the cemetery where many former Monschau cloth industrialists are buried, cobblestones already announce the Mühlenberg Old Town district. During the heyday of Monschau's wool cloth production around 1780, many weavers lived here. Not only did they have to accommodate the powerful looms in their homes, but they also kept animals such as goats and pigs in the cellar rooms to provide for their families. After a 14 km diverse hiking trail, the Tuchmacherbrunnen welcomes hikers once again, who can take advantage of the gastronomic offerings of the Old Town for a well-deserved rest.