The Eifel Trail "Tuscany of the Eifel" leads right through the Lampertstal nature reserve in the North Eifel and could also be synonymous with "pure idyll". Road noise or other disturbing noises? Not a thing. Ilonka and Silke are accompanied on their hike by the loud twittering of birds, cheerful chirping and babbling brooks. On the 16-kilometre tour, only the occasional strained breathing breaks the silence - and sometimes it's a "It really does look like Tuscany here, doesn't it?"
St Agatha's cemetery chapelPhoto spot to pause for thought
The weather couldn't be nicer, our mood couldn't be better. Our hike starts in the tiny, romantic village of Ripsdorf. We quickly grab two coffees and off we go! We can see the cemetery chapel from afar and if we hadn't only been walking for a few minutes, we would probably have chosen this spot for a breather. In front of the chapel, an old wooden bench in the shade of old beech trees offers a great view of the Calvary. However, we prefer to take a look around the cemetery garden and discover the first colourful harbingers of spring - this is just the beginning, because on our way along the Eifel Trail "Tuscany of the Eifel" we often enjoy the diverse vegetation of the nature reserve. Even if we can't quite manage without an app to identify the plant species.
Out and about in the juniper reserveThe cypresses of the north
In the distance, a flock of sheep bleats as they graze the vast area of the Lampertstal valley. Countless juniper bushes adorn the hills and slopes on which we hike up and down. We are in the middle of the largest juniper conservation area in North Rhine-Westphalia. Thanks to the evergreen plants, this tour also offers beautiful views in the winter months. The resemblance to cypress trees is undeniable and we keep asking ourselves whether we are really still in a German low mountain range. We quickly agree that the name of this Eifel trail doesn't promise too much. It is now almost 20 degrees. We lie down on a panoramic lounger and enjoy the view. Or should we say "our short holiday in Tuscany"?
Wide meadows, rushing streamsPicnic spots as far as the eye can see
Green meadows dotted with colourful flowers, dry grass, beech and spruce forests: even away from the juniper fields, there is a lot to see in the Kalkeifel landscape and we walk exclusively on natural paths. After some tough climbs, we are rewarded with marvellous views. A new idyllic spot lurks around every bend, perfect for a picnic. These include the green meadows, criss-crossed by babbling brooks.
The best thing is: this circular route is just one of a total of 18 EifelSpuren trails that lead through the landscape on various themes, with forest sofas, picnic spots and oversized picture frames along the way offering opportunities for a (photo) stop.
We'll tell you how we made this already great hike even more beautiful and which special places await you in the Tuscan Eifel.
Insider tips along the way
- Delicacies from the farm shop: If you fancy a refreshment before or after the hike, you should make a stop at the farm shop at Restaurant Breuers. The (really good) cappuccino to go gave us the energy we needed for the long hike. But tired hikers can also reward themselves here after the tour. For example, with a hot meal, freshly baked cake or eggnog from the region.
- At Lake Freilingen: Lake Freilingen is not on the edge of the trail, but only a few kilometres away from the starting point in Ripsdorf. Surrounded by woods and meadows, it invites you to relax after a long hike. Depending on the weather, you can also take a dip in the water.
- Enjoy nature: The hike is almost over, but it's just too beautiful here to go on. Not a soul around, just the rushing Lampertsbach stream, an old wooden bridge and the green meadow in which we let ourselves fall. We cool our drinks in the stream and if it had been a few degrees warmer, we probably wouldn't have left our hiking boots on any longer.
