One route leads from the forest into the Dierbach Valley; a wayside cross dating from 1888 adds a distinctive historical note. For your stay in Hargarten, you can first decide whether to focus on the local route and the village’s cultural history, or whether you would also like to explore other cultural themes in the wider destination of the Eifelkreis Bitburg-Prüm district.

Forest, Dierbach and the route

The route first passes through a stretch of forest and then reaches the Dierbach Valley. It forms a figure eight: it passes through Hargarten before returning to Lambertsberg. The shape of the loop and the change from forest to valley offer two different points of reference as you familiarise yourself with the route.

After the 2021 flood, the Dierbach changed course; since then, sections of the stream have flowed underground. As conditions may continue to change, check the local situation before setting out, especially if you plan to include the stream’s course in your itinerary. The Alois Trail is freely accessible at all times. Nevertheless, check access locally before setting off.

A wayside cross at the meeting point of three cadastral districts

At the point where the cadastral districts of Hargarten, Lambertsberg and Plütscheid meet stands a red sandstone wayside cross dating from 1888. Its distinctive features include a plaque depicting the Madonna and an octagonal shaft. The year it was built, its material and its design provide specific historical and formal details to guide your attention to this monument.

Its later history is also part of the story: the wayside cross was renovated and returned to its former location. Its construction and preservation therefore represent two different stages, not the same one. Hargarten is also a few kilometres from the borders with Luxembourg and Belgium—useful geographical context when choosing your destination.

Cultural themes in the Eifelkreis Bitburg-Prüm district

The wider destination of the Eifelkreis Bitburg-Prüm district has other attractions covering a range of themes, from mining and the history of the Earth to military history and historic domestic culture. These regional themes complement Hargarten’s local routes and monuments with other points of interest for visitors.

At the Mühlenberger Stollen Bleialf visitor mine, one-hour guided tours offer insights into ore mining in Bleialf, from geology to applied technology. The visitor mine also has a mining trail with numerous information boards on the area’s mining history. The tours and the boards focus on different aspects: one presents mining during a guided visit, while the other explores the history of mining. Check in advance when tours are offered.

The Devonium in Waxweiler presents complex concepts in palaeontology and the science of fossil life in a playful way. The focus here is on the history of the Earth and fossils. The Westwall Museum, by contrast, focuses on military history: it is set up across three accessible floors of a bunker, with an exhibition on the subject in underground corridors and rooms.

The approximately 700-year-old Rittersdorf moated castle offers another historical perspective. It has been preserved almost entirely in its original state since it was built, and provides an impressive picture of late medieval and early modern Renaissance domestic culture. The castle also has a privately run restaurant serving fine country cuisine. Check before travelling whether the restaurant is open.

Discover more destinations: Lierfeld, Lichtenborn, Dasburg, Eilscheid, Leidenborn, Lauperath, Dackscheid, Großkampenberg

Return to the main travel overview: Arzfeld.