The Way of St. James passes through Merzkirchen, following an old Roman road from Trier through the town towards Metz. Waymarkers bearing scallop shells identify the pilgrimage route, while the tower of St. Martin’s Church serves as a visible landmark. For hikers interested in culture, this creates a link between the pilgrimage route and the course of the Roman road.
Hiking trails between the pilgrimage route and the Saargau
The Three-Village Trail offers a shorter hiking option from Merzkirchen towards Mannebach and Fisch. It passes through the hilly Saargau landscape, characterised by fields. The named destinations give the route a clear direction, making it a distinct option alongside the historically themed Way of St. James.
The signposted Moselsteig access route from Palzem to Saarburg passes through Merzkirchen. The hike is listed as 23.1 kilometres long, with a difficulty rating of “difficult” and a duration of 6 hours 30 minutes. On the Palzem–Saarburg hike, the route through Merzkirchen offers far-reaching views across the Saargau. The distance and duration help with planning your day. As the tourism authority may change route information, check the latest details before setting out.
There are several options to choose from: the historical connection of the Way of St. James, the shorter Three-Village Trail, or the Moselsteig access route, rated difficult, with its longer duration and views across the Saargau.
Orchards and distilleries
Merzkirchen is considered a rural municipality known for its orchards and fruit distilleries. Many distilleries offer demonstrations of the distilling process and tastings. Check with the individual business before visiting to confirm participation and availability. This adds a culinary theme to the hiking trails, though the specific visit depends on what each business offers.
Trier-Saarburg as a wider destination
The wider Trier-Saarburg destination offers further themes for tours. Trier-Saarburg district has 492 kilometres of cycle paths. The Tälchen Tour starts and ends in Konz, is classified as a moderately difficult circular route, measures 37.28 kilometres and is listed as taking about 2 hours 45 minutes. It passes the Wiltinger Saarbogen nature reserve; the tour also recommends a detour to the waterfall in Saarburg’s old town.
Saarburg and Tawern also bring their own historical perspectives to the wider Trier-Saarburg destination. In Saarburg, large sections of the surrounding walls and a residential tower of the castle have been preserved; several viewing platforms and the tower offer panoramic views of the Saar Valley. In Tawern, the Roman road settlement of Tabernae is considered the origin of the town. It was established shortly before the beginning of the Common Era on the Roman main road from the Moselle via Metz to Rome. The pavilion houses an authentic model of the settlement at a scale of 1:75; the large reconstructed temple complex of Tawern is also located in the forest. The free ARGO app lets visitors view the complex on site at full scale and in a 360-degree representation using augmented reality.
Discover more destinations: Gusterath, Hentern, Riol, Waldweiler, Thörnich, Saarburg-Hosteberg, Grimburg, Kenn
Back to the main travel guide: Trier-Saarburg.
