Liers: Hiking, History and Remembrance

A stay in Liers can be shaped around several distinct themes: an AhrSteig stage, a circular trail with a stop in the town center, an annual hiking tradition and a place of remembrance dedicated to the history of the floods. The town’s historical development is another aspect. The trails, the Good Friday date and the memorial stele appeal to different interests. If you choose Liers as your destination, these themes can help you decide what to focus on during your trip.

Hiking routes with different points of reference

AhrSteig Stage 4 runs from Insul to Kreuzberg via Liers and through the Liersbach valley. The entire route is 17.4 kilometers long and marked in both directions with the blue AhrSteig trail logo. The distance refers to the stage between Insul and Kreuzberg, not just the section near Liers; this helps put the route’s length into perspective when planning your own trip. Check the current trail markings and trail conditions before setting out, as signage and conditions can change.

The Wensburg circular trail passes St. Bartholomew’s Chapel in the center of Liers, then follows the Ahr Valley Trail toward Hönningen. The two route descriptions offer different points of reference: AhrSteig Stage 4 is defined by Insul, Kreuzberg, the total distance and the blue logo; the Wensburg circular trail by the chapel in town and the direction of Hönningen. When choosing between these options, you can consider whether named endpoints and the stage length or a stop in the town center matter more to you.

An annual hiking tradition

A recurring date marks a distinctive hiking tradition: a hiking group of 17 local friends, founded in 2013, traditionally goes on a hike around Hönningen and Liers on Good Friday. Unlike the named routes, this tradition is defined by the annual Good Friday date and the area around the two towns. Thus, Liers is associated not only with specific trail routes but also with a recurring hiking tradition.

Memorial stele and digital exhibition

A memorial stele stands in Liers, with a plaque documenting historical floods in the Ahr Valley. The virtual exhibition “MemoriAhr – The Flood Disaster in the Ahr Valley in 2021 – Memories of the Future” can be accessed via a QR code on the stele. It includes eyewitness accounts, texts and photos. The plaque and digital exhibition offer two different ways of engaging with the subject: the plaque documents historical floods, while the exhibition brings together eyewitness accounts with text and images. If you plan to visit the stele specifically, it may be worth checking its condition beforehand.

Local history and Teufelsley

The town’s history dates back to 1265, when Liers was first mentioned in a document under the name “Lesere.” Under Cologne rule, the town formed its own Dingstuhl—a judicial district—in the Amt of Altenahr until 1794. The two dates have different meanings: 1265 marks the name’s first documented mention; “until 1794” describes the period during which the Dingstuhl existed under Cologne rule.

Mount Teufelsley, in the “Teufelsley” nature reserve, is shared by the localities of Dümpelfeld, Liers and Hönningen.

Discover more destinations: Mayschoß, Kesseling, Lind, Kirchsahr, Ahrbrück, Berg, Binzenbach, Hönningen.

For the broader travel overview: Altenahr.