The AhrSteig hiking trail follows what is probably the most romantic tributary of the Rhine from its source to its mouth, meandering through the countryside for 85.1 kilometers. The river begins in the charming Eifel town of Blankenheim, where it gushes out of a tapped spring under a half-timbered house. From there, it runs through the Ahr Mountains to its mouth in the Rhine at Sinzig.
The hiking route stretches over seven stages and leads through the impressive landscapes of the Eifel and the Ahr Valley. As early as the early 19th century, the Ahr Valley inspired famous "Rhine romantics" such as Gottfried Kinkel, Ernst Moritz Arndt, Karl Simrock and Ferdinand Freiligrath. They all appreciated the wild and romantic river landscape, which is characterized by steep vineyards, narrow gorges and rocky slopes. With its mixture of beautiful river landscapes, cultural sights and challenging climbs, the Ahrsteig continues to inspire today.
