AhrSteig Stage 1: Blankenheim to Freilinger See (11.3 km)

Blankenheim - Source of the Ahr - Eifel Museum - Onerahreck Viaduct - Freilinger See

Already the first stage impresses with its wealth of natural monuments and cultural treasures. The source of the Ahr in Blankenheim forms the starting point of the first stage. Passing the Eifel Museum and the Roman road information center, one strolls through alleys, along the Swan Pond, following the upper course of the Ahr. Then it goes through the railway underpass. Now it becomes more demanding and you hike steeply uphill. Through dense beech groves, you reach the plateau of the Birker Berg. Spectacular views of the southern Eifel heights reward the ascent. Passing fields, across quiet forest paths of the 484-meter-high Bohrberg, you reach the shore of the Freilinger See.

Blankenheim - source of the Ahr - Eifel Museum - Onerahreck viaduct - Freilinger See

The first stage alone impresses with its wealth of natural monuments and cultural treasures. The source of the Ahr in Blankenheim is the starting point of the first stage. Past the Eifel Museum and the Roman Road Information Centre, you stroll through alleyways, along the Schwanenweiher pond, following the upper reaches of the Ahr. Then you go through the railway subway. Now it becomes more challenging and you walk steeply uphill. You reach the plateau of the Birker Berg through dense beech groves. Spectacular views of the Eifel heights to the south reward the ascent. Past fields and along quiet forest paths on the 484-metre-high Bohrsberg, you reach the shore of Lake Freilingen.

Blankenheim: The small town with its medieval charm is worth an extended visit, not only because of the picturesque half-timbered ensembles, the old town gates, but also because of its mighty castle complex. In the middle of the center begins the first stage of the AhrSteig. The Ahr springs below a dreamlike old half-timbered house. Passing the Swan Pond, we leave the friendly little town and hike through the open valley along the forest edge. Behind a railway underpass, the path now ascends through young mixed forest to the open plateau on the Birker Berg. Then it mostly goes again on a natural trail back into the forest below the district of Reetz.

We cross the road to Reetz; now the path gently rises again onto the plateau, where resting furniture invites you to linger. The view to the south captures the wooded hills of the southern Ahr mountains. Another short stretch through young deciduous forest, then we pass the summit of the Bohrberg and a few minutes later the idyllic waters of the Freilinger See spread out before us.

Blankenheim: The small town with its medieval charm is worth an extended visit, not only because of the picturesque half-timbered ensembles and the old town gates, but also because of its mighty castle complex. The first stage of the AhrSteig begins right in the centre. The Ahr rises below a dreamy old half-timbered house. Passing the Schwanenweiher pond, we leave the friendly little village and walk through the open valley along the edge of the forest. Behind a railway subway, the path now climbs through young mixed forest up to the open plateau on Birker Berg. Immediately, the route leads mostly on a natural path back into the forest below the district of Reetz.

We cross the road to Reetz; now the path swings leisurely back up to the plateau, where resting furniture invites you to linger. The view to the south takes in the wooded hills of the southern Ahrgebirge. Another short stretch through a young deciduous forest, then we pass the top of the Bohrberg and a few minutes later the idyllic waters of Lake Freilingen spread out before us.