Plan a route here Copy route

recommended route

Auf den Spuren der Ordensritter: Circular route in 2 stages (Adenau - Kottenborn - Adenau)

· 3 reviews · Thematic Trail · Eifel (Mittelgebirge)

Responsible for this content
Eifel Tourismus GmbH

Komturei Adenau
Photo: Verbandsgemeindeverwaltung Adenau, Tourist-Information Hocheifel-Nürburgring

This beautifully scenic two-day route offers the hiker the experience of a journey into the past in the footsteps of the Knights of St. John over a distance of around 42 km.

moderate

Distance 41.7 km

11:50 h

965 m

928 m

707 m

301 m

The best starting point for the two-day walking tour is in Adenau at the Johanniter Commandery, which is a part of the former manor house of the Knights of St. John settled in Adenau in 1162. From there, the route leads to the picturesque Müllenwirft Chapel, where the Adenau Order Commandery had owned a property with a farm and mill since 1588. Via Wirft you continue to Kirmutscheid to the Catholic parish church "St. Wendelinus", where the Adenauer Johanniterorden was already active in 1224. Continuing on via the high-altitude village of Barweiler, the destination of the first day's hike, the St. Anthony Chapel in Kottenborn, is reached shortly afterwards (18,5 daily kilometres)

On the second day, the route leads along the Nordschleife of the legendary Nürburgring. Already visible from afar, the Nürburg castle complex in the town of the same name invites you to visit it a short time later. On the summit of the Hohe Acht, at 747 metres the highest point in the Eifel, the Kaiser-Wilhelm lookout tower offers an exhilarating panoramic view of the Eifel landscape before heading back downhill to the starting point back to Adenau (22,7 daily kilometres)

Highlights along the way:

historic town centre of Adenau with the Commandery of the Johanniter and the Catholic parish church "St. John the Baptist
Local history, guild and Johanniter museum with Johanniter/Maltese exhibition
Nürburgring-Nordschleife
Castle ruin Nürburg
Kaiser-Wilhelm-Tower on the Hohe Acht

Author’s recommendation

Visit to the local history, guild and Johanniter museum with Johanniter/Maltese exhibition in Adenau
Visit of the castle ruins of Nürburg with a fantastic view

Author

Daniela Schmitz / Tourist-Information Hocheifel-Nürburgring

Update: February 17, 2023

Difficulty

moderate

Technique

Stamina

Experience

Landscape

Highest point

707 m

Lowest point

301 m

Best time of year

Jan

Feb

Mar

Apr

May

Jun

Jul

Aug

Sep

Oct

Nov

Dec

Track types

Asphalt

3.5 km

Dirt road

5.7 km

Forested/wild trail

26.7 km

Path

0.8 km

Road

2.4 km

Unknown

2.7 km

Show elevation profile

Safety information

Events at the Nürburgring can lead to increased traffic and noise pollution.

For your own safety, please always stay on marked paths and do not leave them.

Tips and hints

Tourist-Information Hocheifel-Nürburgring

Kirchstraße 15 - 19

53518 Adenau

Tel.: (+49) 2691 305-122

Fax: (+49) 2691 305-196

E-Mail:

www.hocheifel-nuerburgring.de

Start

53518 Adenau, Komturei in der Kirchstraße 26 (301 m)

Coordinates:

50.382228, 6.930215

DMS

50°22'56.0"N 6°55'48.8"E

UTM

32U 352849 5583177

w3w

///distantly.kicker.ushering

Show on Map

Destination

53518 Adenau, Komturei in der Kirchstraße 26

Turn-by-turn directions

From Adenau, the route first climbs steadily uphill to Wimbach and then downhill again to the Müllenwirft chapel 5 km away. The route continues for 2,7 km in the direction of Wirft, and the next stop after 1,4 km is Kirmutscheid with the parish church of St. Wendelinus. From Kirmutscheid the hiking trail climbs continuously for 3,6 km to Barweiler. About 145 metres of altitude difference are covered on this trail. After a further 5,8 km, which first leads down into the valley to Barweiler Mühle and then back up to Kottenborn, the first stage of the day is reached. (total 18,5 km)

The second hiking day begins with a route that leads past the "Schwedenkreuz" (Swedish cross) along the north loop of the legendary Nürburgring. The hiker reaches the Nürburg castle in the village of the same name after about 6,2 kilometres of steady, gentle ascent. From the Nürburg, the hike continues for 9,4 kilometres to the highest point in the Eifel, the Hohe Acht, at 747 metres above sea level. The 7,1 km descent from the Hohe Acht back to Adenau first leads to the "Müllers Kreuz" and then brings the hiker back to the starting point of the hike, the Adenauer Komturei. (total 22,7 km)

The route is marked throughout with the trail logo.

Public transport

Public-transport-friendly

DB railway:

Ahrtalbahn: Remagen - Ahrbrück railway station

Timetable information at https://www.bahn.de

bus:

Line 863: Ahrbrück - Adenau railway station, Markt

Line 882: Adenau, Markt - Barweiler

Line 861: Adenau, Markt - Wimbach - Kottenborn

Line 528: Adenau, Markt - Meuspath - Nürburg

Line 529: Adenau, Markt - Wirft

Timetable information at https://www.vrminfo.de

By road

Please use the navigation-capable start address in the parking area to enter it in your navigation device.

Parking

START: 53518 Adenau, Kirchstr. 26 (at the commandry)

Paid parking spaces in the city centre of Adenau (parking guidance system)

Free parking spaces in the industrial area at the railway station

Coordinates

50.382228, 6.930215

DMS

50°22'56.0"N 6°55'48.8"E

UTM

32U 352849 5583177

w3w

///distantly.kicker.ushering

Show on Map

Arrival by train, car, foot or bike

Book recommendation by the author

Hiking brochure Spurensuche

available at the Tourist-Information Hocheifel-Nürburgring

Author’s map recommendations

Hiking map No. 11 Hocheifel Nürburgring Oberes Ahrtal by the Eifelverein Düren.

ISBN: 3-921805-92-3

Equipment

Optimally equipped with:

sturdy, waterproof footwear

Sticks

adapted clothing

sufficient rucksack food (especially water)

Similar routes nearby

These suggestions were created automatically.

Questions and answers

Ask the first question

Would you like to the ask the author a question?

Rating

3.7

(3)

Martin Rabenstein

August 07, 2022 · Community

Im Grunde eine schöne Rundtour, nur fehlen an vielen Übergängen klar erkennbare Symbole (das Kreuz der Ordensritter!) und auch der Track führt einen teilweise in die Pampa, da offensichtlich auch der Aufzeichner des Tracks leichte Orientierungsprobleme hatte. So geht das teilweise sogar durchs Unterholz, statt auf Wegen voran. Es wäre schön, wenn die Ausschilderung mal eine Auffrischung erhalten würde.

When did you do this route? August 05, 2022

Comment

Kossi

August 16, 2019 · Community

Ich bin die Runde eher sportlich als Tagestour in ca. 7,5 Stunden (es sind 42,x km, nicht 45) gegangen, kann man machen, ich würde sie aber eher für Paare (eine/r motorsportbegeistert, eine/r Wanderfreund) als Zweitagestour empfehlen. Für Motorsportfans sicher eine absolut herausragende Tour: Weite Teile führen am Nürburgring vorbei, die Atmosphäre ist regelrecht fühlbar. Highlights sind ansonsten die Nürburg-Ruine und insbesondere der Kaiser Wilhelm Turm. Egal, wie fertig ihr seid, da muss jeder hinauf, die Aussicht ist es wirklich wert (vielleicht 15 Minuten sehr lohnender Umweg)! Die Wege sind recht abwechselungsreich, von Wiesen bis hin zu Feldwegen und Asphalt ist alles dabei, allerdings sind die Wege über sehr weite Strecken sehr breit, es gibt nur wenige schmale Pfade.. An zwei Stellen führt die Tour an Landstraßen ohne Fußweg vorbei, mit kleinen Kindern kann das ungünstig sein. Wenn man die Tour in Motorsport-Tour umbenennt, gibt es sicher nur glückliche Besucher. Für Naturliebhaber wird es wohl stellenweise zu laut sein. Adenau hat mich positiv überrascht, gastroonomisch ist wirklich alles vorhanden!

Comment

Philipp Peters

October 16, 2018 · Community

Comment

Photos from others

Reviews

Difficulty

moderate

Distance

41.7 km

Duration

11:50 h

Ascent

965 m

Descent

928 m

Highest point

707 m

Lowest point

301 m

Public-transport-friendly Circular route Multi-stage route Scenic Refreshment stops available Cultural/historical interest

Statistics

Waypoints

Tips

Content
Show images Hide images

Features

2D 3D

Maps and trails

21 Waypoints

21 Waypoints

Distance km

Duration : h

Ascent m

Descent m

Highest point m

Lowest point m

Push the arrows to change the view