Prüm Valley Cycle Route

The Prüm Valley Cycle Route follows the second longest river in the Eifel from start to finish. The route does not always run evenly along the valley floor, favouring instead a variety of uphill and downhill paths. For this reason, we recommend that you tackle the route from the south. The route starts in Minden, where the Prüm flows into the Sauer. The path continues through the Lower Prüm Valley, past the majestic railway viaducts in Menningen and Irrel mill, until it reaches the climatic spa town of Irrel. The Siegfried Line Museum, the Irrel waterfalls, the Teufelsschlucht, or Devil’s Ravine, and the Nature Discovery Centre are all nearby and offer opportunities to take a breather. A few kilometres upstream at Holsthum, an incredible view awaits you. At harvest time, you can’t miss the rich green hops growing several metres high. Local hop grower Dick is happy to give you an insight into the secrets of this fine crop. At Biersdorf, quite a bit further down the road, the Bitburger Stausee reservoir offers you the chance of a rest on the waterside promenade. Next, visit Hamm Castle, the biggest of the Eifel castles which is still inhabited, where you can explore the fortification that dates from the late Middle Ages. Cycling through Waxweiler, Lünebach (Eifel zoo) and Pronsfeld, you will eventually arrive in the monastery town of Prüm, where the grave of Lothar I lies in the St Salvator basilica.

TIP: ‘Kilometre-hungry’ cyclists should either head out of Prüm via the source of the Prüm in the moorlands near Reuth and continue through the Wirft Valley to Stadtkyll, or, alternatively, join the Eifel-Ardennes Cycle Route at Prüm. This route will take you through the Alfbach Valley towards St. Vith in Belgium.