100 - Jahrhundertweg

Circular route - 18.1 km - from Burgau parking lot

For its 100th birthday, the Eifelverein Monschau presented all hiking enthusiasts with the "Jahrhundertweg". The trail is suitable for long-distance hikers as well as walkers. It can be shortened or extended several times along the way. The Jahrhundertweg was opened on September 14, 1985.

From the memorial stone, turn left uphill to the old Monschau-Höfen road. A worthwhile detour to the chapel with a view of the old town and castle complex. (This is the first opportunity to descend into the town.) Continue in the direction of Höfen, turn right after approx. 600m and continue on a tarmac farm track; you will later reach the new refuge. Now take the unpaved path downhill to "Engelsley". (Here you can turn right to return to Monschau, the path ends after approx. 900m at the Burgau parking lot). Circular route approx. 3.5 km.
At the Engelsley turn left into the "Düsterheck". After approx. 1200 m, a path branches off to the right, downhill on a narrow path to the Perlbach stream. On the other side of the stream is Hotel Perlenau. (Downstream there is another possibility to walk back to Monschau via the camping site). From Perlenau, follow the hiking trail upstream. Pass the water treatment plant, go under the bridge, follow the road to the left and soon turn right at an acute angle to the dam wall of the Perlbach dam. Now continue over the dam to the Monschau-Kalterherberg road. Follow this road downhill to the right and after approx. 50 m cross it to the left, then uphill into the forest. (At the road below, Gasthof Schwingsborn on the left). Follow the forest uphill to the crossroads, turn right there and then right again at the next crossroads. Follow the field path past the farm and turn left at the edge of the forest. (You can continue straight on back to Monschau, down the forest path to the former factory, then follow the road to the left to Monschau. Circular route approx. 8.5 km).

After approx. 1200 m, turn right downhill at a crossroads on the forest and field path. You come to the former drinking water supply. Turn left here until you reach a firm field path. Turn left slightly uphill to the asphalt road, then turn right and after 200m turn right before the farm. Continue straight ahead along the dirt road until you reach the forest. At the edge of the forest, turn left slightly uphill to a bend in the path at the top, here turn right onto a grass path (approx. 100m).

Now keep left under a high-voltage power line downhill, with a view of the former Reichenstein monastery complex, until you reach a firm forest path. Follow the forest path to the left (a shortcut is possible approx. 50 m before the country road, on a path downhill to the Norbertus Chapel via the A5). The hiking trail now crosses the country road Mützenich - Kalterherberg and after approx. 800m with a slight descent you reach the Rur. Here you follow the hiking trail to the right, downstream to the Rur bridge, on the right you will see the Nobertus Chapel, on the left you continue over the bridge over the Rur. (Parking lot with shelter on the left). (From here a recommended detour to the "Kreuz im Venn" is possible! approx. 2 km). After crossing the Rur bridge, continue on the Mützenich-Kalterherberg country road until you see the monastery pond on the right after approx. 200m. After the pond, turn right until you reach the entrance to the former monastery complex. (It is well worth visiting the complex)! At the entrance to the monastery, turn left down a steep mountain path over the Ermesbach stream to the Rur.

Turn left downstream through the "Upper Rur nature reserve" and reach the "Fischerhütte" refuge after approx. 2 km. We stay to the left of the Rur and climb up a flight of steps and after approx. 250 m follow a narrow path to the left uphill to the "Ehrensteinsley". (Here on the ascent you can choose the easier option down the Rur back to Monschau). From the "Ehrensteinsley", follow the forest path with a view of the Rur and Perlbach valleys. The path later reaches the bypass road (dangerous crossing)! Cross the road and continue through the brewery museum (refreshments available) to the road, then turn left to the starting point.

(Source: Monschau branch of the Eifelverein)