Hiking the Römerpfad

Hiking the Römerpfad was like a German Walk in the clouds.

Trail name: Römerpfad Distance: 6 miles (10 km) Duration: Approx. 3 - 3.5 hours Difficulty: Moderately Challenging (I think families with kids older than 8-9 years would be fine on this trail) Start/ending point: 49.8206N 6.6290E or 54309 Butzweiler, Wanderparkplatz Ramsteiner Weg.

Parking: In Butzweiler at the Klaus-Pauli-Platz follow the signs "Römischer Kuperbergwerk / Pützlöcher". The street Ramsteiner Weg leads you just outside Butzweiler onto the signposted parking lot. Kid-friendly: Yes Stroller-friendly: No Dog-friendly: Yes. Note: there are several grates crossing the River. You may have to carry your dog across them. Fees: None

The hike is approximately 1 hour and 10 minutes from Landstuhl.

• Trail info, details, maps some more info

• Map PDF

• Trail Difficulty

Ryan and I learned about the Römerpfad hike from a lady who posted about it in the KMC Outdoor Adventures group (they have tons of outdoor activities you should definitely check out). She shared all of the above GREAT information, and made it really easy for us to find the hike.

This was one of our first hikes venturing out here in Germany.

We've been hesitant to get out with Gracie into the forrest because of... TICKS.

They pretty much terrify me. How fair is it that if you just happen to get bit by an infected tick you could end up with lyme's disease for the rest of your life? Ugh. Yeah, that's motivating to get out and go camping...hiking...living.

But we just couldn't resist this one. I had just been to Trier the previous week and had seen the Porta Nigra. When I saw that this hike boasted a look at the mine where the Romans carved out rock from the mountainside to build the Porta Nigra I knew immediately that I wanted to go hike it!

Pützlöcher - Roman Mine

At one point we began walking through these golden fields in the gorgeous sunshine and I couldn't help but feel as if we were in the movie A Walk in the Clouds. Ryan pulled out some Joaquin Sabina which only enhanced the ambiance. At one point we even burst into song "Amor... si em llamas amor." We were walking through German fields listening to a Spaniard sing, and all the while feeling like we were in the Clouds.

I really enjoyed the variety this hike offered. There were parts where we walked through the forrest, had wild flowers and fields, ancient staircases and walls from the Romans, waterfalls, bridges, sandstone caves, even a castle!

We somehow got turned around at one point and ended up walking in a loop for a bit...so we never were able to find the 30m long suspension bridge (pictured below) that is supposed to be at the end of this hike. Bummer.

We'll have to go again and see if we can follow the signs better.

The trail is really well marked with wooden posts that show the Römerpfad coin, so it's pretty hard to get lost. Somehow....we still managed to do that.... #travelmishap

I think the best part was posting all these photos on Facebook and getting a text out of the blue (no context provided by the sender) about a week or two later from my mom that said:

Mom: No hikes alone.

Me: Huh? What are you talking about?

Mom: Your pictures.

Me: What pictures?

Mom: Your photos on Facebook. You were alone. No hiking alone. Not safe.

Me: ... and who do you think was taking my picture?

Mom: Oh. Ryan was there.

Despite a little turn around and some wandering through the forrest for a bit to find our way we still had a blast!

... and nobody got any ticks

Sites along the way that correspond with the map (above)

1. Pützlöcher - this is an antique Roman copper mine from the middle of the 2nd century. Azurite and Malachite were mined here. Later the large quarry was filled with large squares for the construction of the Porta Nigra in Trier.

The mine can be visited by appointment May 1st through October 31st. You must call

+49 (0) 651 4355436 or +49 (0) 6505 8950

2. Spätrömische Langmauer - 72 km long reconstructed Roman, protective wall. Dates back to the time of Valentinian I 364 -375 AD

3. Hochburg - Celtic refugee castle with caves on the south side, about 50meters high. Danger: be careful near the edge of the rock to not fall off.

4. Genovevahöhle - Erosion and wind blasting has created this shell-like cave that has been used as a shelter for many people throughout the ages.

5. Klausenhöhle - Caves that were inhabited by hermits some 200 years ago. The caves were carved into the rock to evict evil.

6. Geyersley - A ledge created by erosion (great look out point)

7. Burg Rammstein - This castle was demolished in 1689. The 25 meter high residential tower has been preserved, but much of the castle lies in ruin. To tour the tower email snsmo@aol.com

8. Wasserfälle - waterfalls continue along the rocks and streams, footbridges, laters, and eventually leads to a 30m suspension bridge.