Moselsteig stage 14: Reil – Zell (Mosel)

The stage starts at the Reil train station in Kaiserstraße. For the first meters, the Moselsteig follows the same route as the Kanonenbahn path, crossing the station area into a quiet residential street. This leads you to the outskirts of town, and after crossing the tracks, you ascend through the vineyards. Stations of the Way of the Cross accompany the path. On the saddle of the Reiler Hals, the Moselsteig reaches a chapel and a wayside cross at the parking lot. Benches invite you to take a short break after the climb, and the view back to Reil is worth it! Downriver, you can already see many intermediate destinations of today’s stage, such as the viewing tower on the Prinzenkopf or the Marienburg.

Now the path climbs steeply in the forest to a hilltop, where the forest opens the view towards the Alfbach valley. Then the path leads down again, and on a wider path, the Moselsteig now heads without major elevation changes through the varied high forest towards the Leo rocks, which lie a few steps off the main path. From the pavilion on the rock, you have a beautiful view towards the Mosel and Alf. In the other direction, you can see further into the Alf valley with its steep, forest-covered hilltops. One of them is crowned by Arras Castle, to which a connecting path leads from here. The path through the high forest reaches the Drieschhütte at the forest edge. Surrounded by many seating options, this spot offers one of the most beautiful views of the Marienburg. If the hut is operated in summer, it is hard to tear yourself away from this place.

But the path offers even better views, which are not long in coming. The Ehrenfriedhof is quickly reached on the ridge path. From here, you can reach Alf via a side path. The Moselsteig now leads steeply up to the Prinzenkopf viewing tower. You should not miss climbing it because the view from up here is truly breathtaking! The two arms of the Zeller Mosel loop lie so close that you can see the Mosel multiple times! The view extends over Reil, Pünderich, Briedel to Bullay, Alf, St. Aldegund and Neef. And towards Zell, the Marienburg towers on the vine-covered saddle. The view from up here is so beautiful that it is no surprise that the iron tower is not the first on this spot. It also had wooden predecessors.

A scenic path now leads to the Marienburg. Here, a Moselsteig side path branches off, which as a stairway leads steeply down to a ferry. The ferry takes those who want to go to Pünderich on the opposite side (observe operating times). The Moselsteig now crosses the grounds of the Marienburg and switches to a path on the back of the site. There is also a descent option to Bullay there. Towards Zell, the path runs along the access road through the vineyards on the saddle between Marienburg and Barl. Then it rises again – initially moderately, later also really steeply through a small wooded section.

At the forest edge, a varied hillside edge path awaits you: mostly accompanied by vineyards on the right and steeply descending into the Mosel valley, mostly low deciduous forest on the left. The view is simply magnificent throughout! Above the vineyard site Briedeler Herzchen, the town on the other side of the Mosel will catch your eye. You reach Briedel via a side path (observe ferry operating times) as soon as the Mosel path has approached the river somewhat.

The Moselsteig now continues through the vineyards, even after crossing the access road to the Barl district. At a ravine, the descent to Zell and the Mosel begins. Via a path directly through the vineyard, you reach the B 53. You cross it carefully and come to the Zell district Kaimt at the cemetery. Now you continue down several flights of stairs to the pedestrian bridge. Over the bridge (the only pure pedestrian bridge on the German Mosel!), the Moselsteig leads to Zell. Along the river promenade a little upstream, you reach the Zeller Schwarze Katz fountain and thus the end of this stage.

• sturdy footwear
• weather-appropriate, functional hiking clothing
• rucksack provisions

At the ferry in Briedel begins the Moselsteig detour Briedeler Schweiz, which leads as a circular hike through the steep slope. Unique viewpoints with beautiful rest opportunities, cultural-historical features, and pristine nature captivate along the route. Especially in summer, this certified circular route is highly recommended as large parts of the trail run through shaded forest.

Starting point: Reil, junction B 53 between Traben-Trarbach and Zell via the bridge, junction from B 49 between Wittlich and Cochem via L 105 to Reil

End point: Zell (Mosel) via B 53

Reil: There is only limited parking at the station, sufficient parking is available at the Mosel riverbank.

Zell (Mosel): The parking spaces along the Mosel promenade require a fee. Free parking is available a little further downriver directly on a large square at the Mosel riverbank.

You can reach the stage locations Reil (stop B 53) as well as Zell (stop Lindenplatz) with bus line 720.

There are regular connections. Please note that during the school holidays of Rhineland-Palatinate / Saarland, on weekends and public holidays, there may be frequency restrictions! Please take the daily up-to-date departure times from the timetable information on the website of the Trier Regional Transport Association (VRT):

www.vrt-info.de

"Moselsteig" - Official Moselsteig hiking guide by ideemedia, €14.95

Authors: Ulrike Poller, Wolfgang Todt, Publisher: ideemedia, 300 pages with almost 300 pictures, elevation profiles, QR codes and GPS tracks, format 11.5 x 23 cm, ISBN: 978-3-942779-21-0, €14.95

"Official Moselsteig hiking maps" in pocket format:

The entire route is divided into 3 maps:

Leisure map Moselsteig - Map 1: Perl - Trier (stages 1 - 4), ISBN: 978-3-89637-419-6

Leisure map Moselsteig - Map 2: Trier - Zell (Mosel) (stages 5 -14), ISBN: 978-3-89637-420-2

Leisure map Moselsteig - Map 3: Zell (Mosel) - Koblenz (stages 15 - 24), ISBN: 978-3-89637-421-9

Single map: €5.90

Maps in 3-set: €14.50 (ISBN: 978-3-89637422-6)

"Premium set"

Premium set, consisting of the official hiking guide including 3-map set, publisher: ideemedia, ISBN: 978-3-942779-24-1, €26.95

The hiking guides and maps are available in bookstores or on the website https://www.visitmosel.de/wandern/service-infos-tipps under the category "Brochure order".

Moselsteig leisure map - Map 2: Trier - Zell (Mosel) (Stages 5 -14), ISBN: 978-3-89637-420-2

Mosellandtouristik GmbH

Kordelweg 1, 54470 Bernkastel-Kues; Phone: +49 (0)6531/97330

www.moselsteig.de

Tourism Association Moselregion Traben-Trarbach Kröv

Bahnstraße 22, 56841 Traben-Trarbach; Phone: +49 (0)6541/8184572

https://www.moselregion.com/

Zeller Land Tourism GmbH, Tourist Information

Balduinstraße 44, 56856 Zell (Mosel); Phone: +49 (0)6542/96220

www.zellerland.de