Kalterherberg offers a range of options for active days: an accessible, family-friendly 3.6 km hike, a longer village walk and access points to two cycling routes. There are also historic churches, chapels and Reichenstein Monastery. Whether you focus on outdoor activities or architectural and religious history is up to you, with these varied options to choose from.
Hiking: comparing two circular routes
The easy, accessible and family-friendly circular hike from the Gut Heistert hiking car park is 3.6 km long. It passes through Kalterherberg’s grazing land and a spruce forest into the Perlenbach Valley, past stands of daffodils and a rare intermediate bog. When it snows, it can be used as a snow hiking trail. The Kalterherberg village walk is also easy: the 8.5 km circular route starts and ends at the Am Eifeldom hiking car park. This gives you a significantly shorter loop as an alternative to the longer route. Before setting off, check the latest route details for the village walk, as they may change.
Cycling routes and access points
The Vennbahn cycle route is a cross-border long-distance route through Germany, Belgium and Luxembourg. In Kalterherberg, access points are located at the old railway station and Reichenstein Monastery. The RurUfer cycle route follows the Rur for around 180 km; access points in Kalterherberg are at the Fedderbach car park and the Norbertus Chapel. Choosing between the two routes means comparing a route through three countries with one that runs along a river for around 180 km.
Churches, monastery and history
The Eifeldom is a landmark of Kalterherberg. The twin-towered parish church was built in 1898 in the Neo-Romanesque style and is open daily from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Check the opening hours again before your trip. Reichenstein Monastery is one of Kalterherberg’s attractions and was founded around 1136 as a double monastery of the Premonstratensians. The Norbertus Chapel has a more recent building history: work began in 1925, and it was consecrated on 6 June 1926 by Vicar General Dr. Vogt. The Cross in the Fens was erected and consecrated on the rock of Richelsley in 1890. The timeline runs from the monastery’s founding around 1136, through the Cross in the Fens in 1890 and the Eifeldom in 1898, to the start of construction on the chapel in 1925.
Mountain biking and practical information
The MTB training centre in Kalterherberg has a large pump track, a children’s pump track, a skills area and a jump line. The Kalterherberg Tourist Information Centre provides advice on hiking and cycling routes, attractions and accommodation. There is also a bicycle repair station at the Tourist Information Centre, which can be accessed outside opening hours.
In the wider destination of Monschau
The wider destination of Monschau offers additional urban and cultural experiences. Route 15 is available for exploring Monschau’s old town independently. The Red House in Monschau was built in 1760 by textile manufacturer Johann Heinrich Scheibler as a residence and business premises. The Monschau Countryside Route passes through the cloth-making town of Monschau. At the Monschau Glassworks, visitors can watch glassblowers shape vessels or glass figures from a glowing mass.
Discover more destinations: Höfen, Rohren, Mützenich, Konzen
Back to the main travel overview: Monschau.
