Burgen can be explored on a hike and through its long history. The approximately nine-kilometre Moselsteig side trail, Borjer Ortsbachpädche, starts and ends in the Moselle village. There are also historical perspectives, from Celtic and Roman settlement to the first documented mention of the present-day village. You can therefore plan your stay around trails through forest and valley or get to know Burgen through its local history.
Hiking around Burgen
The Borjer Ortsbachpädche, known in standard German as the Burgener Ortsbachpfad, is a circular trail. It leads through forest and valley and offers wide-ranging views of the Hunsrück and the Moselle Valley. Starting and finishing in Burgen, the approximately nine-kilometre route offers a specific hiking option without requiring you to change your starting point.
The Ortsbachpfad is part of the hiking options around Burgen. The trails connect natural and cultural landscapes with historic landmarks and offer opportunities to discover the local flora and fauna. If you are weighing up a single loop against other trails in the area, you can consider this named circular route as a clearly defined option; the other trails offer further ways to connect landscape and history.
Local history and notable buildings
The area around Burgen was already settled in Celtic and Roman times, as numerous finds show. Near Burgen, the southern branch of the Roman Maifeld-HunsrĂĽck road crossed the Moselle. Present-day Burgen was first mentioned in a document in 928. This distinction in time is useful: settlement in the area dates back further than the first documented mention of the present-day village.
A local tradition can be seen in Burgen’s cemetery: a large Calvary group stands in an open hall. It earned the residents of Burgen the nickname “Kreuzschleifer.” Opposite the village of Burgen, Bischofstein Castle stands on a steep, sloping slate rock pinnacle. Its keep is about 30 metres high, and its walls are two metres thick. Nearby, the Unterbischofstein Chapel sits on a narrow rocky ridge below Bischofstein Castle. The former St Paul’s Chapel was once a well-known place of pilgrimage and is still popular with locals and visitors alike. If you plan to visit the chapel, check in advance whether it will be open at that time.
Getting there and a regional addition
Bus route 31 runs from Koblenz Central Station to Burgen. The Burgen Marktplatz stop is very close to the starting point of the Borjer Ortsbachpädche. Check the route timetable for your travel day if you would like to coordinate your arrival with the start of your hike.
In the wider Mayen-Koblenz destination, Sayn Ironworks offers a different cultural focus. It is an anchor point of the European Route of Industrial Heritage and the only monument in Rhineland-Palatinate to receive this distinction. Following restoration work, modern exhibitions and multimedia presentations invite visitors to explore; guided tours and creative workshops are also offered. This places Burgen’s local history and hiking trails alongside another perspective in the Mayen-Koblenz destination, one focused on industrial heritage.
Discover more destinations: Lehmen.
Back to the overview of the wider destination: Kobern-Gondorf.
