Trittenheim: Trails, Wine and History at the Moselle Bend

A bend in the Moselle surrounds Trittenheim. The bridge, vineyards and viewpoints give the landscape a distinctive character, while the historic ferry towers point to an earlier crossing of the river. There are different options to choose from when planning your trip: circular walks, other hiking trails and a route along the Moselle Cycle Route. This lets you discover Trittenheim through its landscape, trails and history.

Hiking through vineyards and forests

The R19 is a circular route starting in Trittenheim. It crosses the Moselle bridge, passes the historic ferry towers, runs through the Trittenheimer Apotheke vineyard and reaches the Zummethöhe viewpoint, which overlooks the Trittenheim bend in the Moselle. The route thus brings together several of the area's characteristic landscape features.

The Moselsteig also runs through Trittenheim's vineyards and forests, passing wildlife enclosures and rocky cliffs along the way. The Schieferhöhle, an open-access rest area, is also located on the steep slopes of the Trittenheimer Apotheke vineyard. Conditions can vary on steep trails, so check trail conditions before setting out.

Other routes differ in their course and starting points. The Römersteig begins at an ancient menhir between Trittenheim and Klüsserath and leads through vineyards down to Trittenheim's Moselle bridge. Unlike the R19, a circular route starting in Trittenheim, the R9 is a 14.9-kilometre circular route that starts in Klüsserath, passes through Trittenheim and returns to Klüsserath. Check the local trail signs when planning your trip, too.

Ferry towers, a chapel and Roman traces

The ferry towers are the only surviving pair of ferry towers on the Moselle between Perl and Koblenz. They document the operation of a pontoon ferry in Trittenheim from around 1829 to 1908/09. The Fährfels plateau offers a view of Trittenheim, its bridge and the towers. The vista brings the historic structures together with today's townscape and the bend in the Moselle.

The Laurentius Chapel was first mentioned in an official document in 1569. It offers a place to pause for hikers and people interested in the local wine country. Roman traces are also part of the area's history: sarcophagi near Trittenheim are part of a burial site discovered in the Trittenheimer Apotheke vineyard and dated to around 375 AD.

Wine, cycling and getting there

Trittenheimer Apotheke and Altärchen are local vineyards associated with Riesling wines. If you'd like to include a cycling route as well as hiking trails, there is a listening point with a smartphone audio tour on the Moselle Cycle Route in Trittenheim. The tour offers another way to explore the town as you travel.

For journeys between several towns, bus route 220 connects Trier, Ruwer, Schweich, Mehring, Leiwen, Trittenheim and Neumagen. Check the current timetable before travelling. If you're considering Trittenheim as a destination, your planned outings can help shape your stay: viewpoints and vineyard trails, local history or a combination with the cycle route.

For the wider travel overview: Schweich.