Eifel route Hahnenberg (City of Euskirchen)

Over the Hahnenberg into the Steinbach valley. After enchanting sections through the cool, fragrant forest, the view opens up to the clear water of the Steinbach reservoir – wonderful!

The first few kilometers of this Eifel route follow a wide forest track steadily ascending the Hahnenberg. It smells of wood, and wide forest fields of lady ferns line the path. Over forest paths and narrower trails, you reach the Steinbach dam. The dam was built in the 1930s to meet the water demand of the local cloth makers. Today, the reservoir is a local recreation area with a forest open-air pool, adjoining gastronomy, a beach volleyball field, and a mini-golf course.

Further along the route, you pass the former Schweinheim Monastery. It was first mentioned in documents in 1238. The monastery had the task of missionizing the local "pagan slaves." During secularization, the French dissolved the monastery in 1802 and put the property to secular use. Today, a seminar house is housed in the remaining rooms.