Where did the knights live in the Northern Eifel and what did their castles look like? The Eifel trail "In the footsteps of the robber barons" answers these questions in a beautiful way, leading past 14 kilometers of impressive sights in Hellenthal and Reifferscheid. The circular trail leads through the historic castle village of Reifferscheid to the medieval castle complex with its remains. The tour is considered a moderately difficult hike with a constant alternation of ascents and descents. The physical exertion is rewarded with numerous breathtaking views. You can take a breather on forest sofas and enjoy the panorama.

The starting and finishing point of this hike is, of course, a castle. To be precise, the hilltop castle of Reifferscheid. The center of Reifferscheid can be easily reached by public transport (TaxiBusPlus from Hellenthal train station). It is only a ten-minute walk from the bus stop in Reifferscheid to the castle. After the start, the route heads north via the castle courtyard entrance and along the Olef up to the Kirchenberg. This is walked around and then downhill to Blumenthal and on to the Kuhberg. The route then continues to the old castle ruins in the "Altenberg" area and back to Reifferscheid via some steep hairpin bends.

It is worth taking a break every now and then. Numerous cafés and restaurants in Hellenthal or Reifferscheid are ideal for this. The perfect end to the day is a visit to Reifferscheid Castle with its castle garden.

By the way: this EifelSpur has been awarded the "Wanderbares Deutschland" quality hiking trail by the German Hiking Association.