Arrival at Monschau in the Naturpark Hohes Venn – Eifel/High Fenn – Eifel Nature Park and the Pejo-Weiß-Weg (4.8 km.) in 2023 (Hohe Eifel)
In 1998, The Wandelgek teamed up with a friend to hike the Ville-Eifel-Weg, which in those days was named the Karl-Kaufmann-Weg, but was renamed because of the nazi past of Karl Kaufmann, in the Vulkaneifel Nature Park. In 2022 he walked the Dutch Mountain Trail and his plan was to have several detours during that walk, of which one would have been a trip from Vaals to Aachen and Monschau, but covid19 regulations prevented him from executing his plan. While walking the German government decided that a peak in the Covid19 outbreak in The Netherlands (Thank you very much for that Anti Vaxers!!!), meant that Dutch people were not allowed to enter Germany anymore. Later on that walk, his friend joined for a few days and we discussed this. The seed for a 2023 walking trip in the same area was planted.
In the summer of 2023 we executed that plan. This would not be a long distance trail like in 1998, but a series of day walks while being based in a AirBNB appartment. The Wandelgek started driving from Deventer to Nijmegen,
where he was picked up by car for a drive to Monschau.
After arrival in Monschau by car, we first checked out our appartment which turned out to be in a gorgeous monumental building (almost all of Monschau is monumental though 😉 ).
A cup of coffee and a quick visit to the local tourist office first to get some maps and descriptions of local walks….
Then it was time to get rid of our luggage and visit the AirBNB, which was in a historical monument right next to the river Rur.
The halfbricked building had a steep narrow chair going up and I was a bit worried about escape routes in case of a fire.
Interior
Livingroom/kitchen
The interior had a large livingroom area with a separate seat area at a table where we had our breakfasts and a bench before the television. There was a large open kitchen area in the back.
Toilet/Shower
From the bedroom there was access to the toilet/shower which was clean and spacy enough.
Bedroom
The bedroom could be entered from the livingroom and it had two beds and some closets. What I remember most though was the sound of streaming and roaring water from the Rur, which flowed by just outside of the window. Personally I liked that and I slept well on it.
The views
The views from the bedroom as well as from the livingroom areas over Monschau were just gorgeous ….
These view were an extra incentive for us to quickly go on our first “short” walk and explore Monschau afterwards …
That first 4.9 kilometer walk was the:
Pejo-Weiß-weg 1
- Distance: approx. 4.8 km (3 miles)
- Duration: approx. 1 hour 15 minutes
- Difficulty: Easy to moderate (approx. 98 meters elevation gain)
- Starting point: Monschau, town exit (towards Höfen)
- Signage: Clearly marked with the number 65
Naturpark Hohes Venn – Eifel / High Fens – Eifel Nature Park
The nature park lies between Langerwehe and Eupen in the north and Bad Münstereifel, Prüm and Sankt Vith in the south and covers six regions: the Rur Eifel, the High Eifel, the Limestone Eifel, the Our valley, the Venn Foreland and the Hohes Venn, a raised bog and heath landscape, remnants of the last ice age 7,500 years ago.
The geographical description North Eifel in its narrowest sense only covers the Eifel landscape between Zitter Forest in the south and Aachen in the north, Bad Münster Eifel to the east and over the Rur Eifel to the Belgian border in the west. The Hohe Venn is geographically seen as a separate natural region within the whole Eifel area, but is nevertheless included in the nature park.
In the middle of the nature park, largely around the former Belgian Army military training area at Vogelsang and the Rur Dam, is the Eifel National Park founded in 2004 and expanded after the withdrawal of the Belgians on 1 January 2006.
Pejo-Weiß-weg 2
- Starting Point: The trail typically begins at the Dreistegen parking lot or near the St. Johann Baptist church in Monschau.
- Nature & History: The path leads through the picturesque Pouhon Valley, follows romantic riverside trails, and offers views of historic remnants from the Westwall (Siegfried Line).
Burg Monschau
The castle dates back to the early 13th century and was a nearly impregnable stronghold for the powerful Counts of Jülich. In 1543, Emperor Charles V besieged it with heavy artillery, captured it, and looted the surrounding town.
In the 1830s, private owners actually removed the castle’s roofs to escape paying building taxes, causing it to quickly fall into ruin. It was later restored and today serves as a popular youth hostel and a venue for summer concerts.
Next there are dirtroads ascending to the:
Gipfelkreuz (Summit Cross) & Rock Formations
Ehrensteinsley
The trail bypasses and looks up at the Ehrensteinsley, a dramatic quartzite rock peak rising above the Rur River.
At the top of these nearby crags, you will spot a traditional Gipfelkreuz (summit cross), which is a characteristic feature of the Eifel region’s prominent peaks.
The nature here is defined by mossy slate slopes, romantic riverside singletracks, and stunted oak forests that have adapted to the rocky terrain.
Next the walk gradually descends a bit through dense green forest on dirtroads…
…toward the wide and open:
Paustenbacher Höhe
- The Eifel Cross: Serves as a central point for reflection and offers wide views over the meadows and hedgerows.
- Hiking Trails: The hill is an ideal starting point or destination for routes like the 21 – Westwall-Eifelkreuz trail or the Kalltal-Kelzerbach path.
- Nature: The adjacent Paustenbacher Venn is a 49-hectare nature reserve, perfect for walks through local moorlands.
- History: The area was the site of heavy fighting in 1944 (often referred to as “Hill 554”); remains of the Westwall fortifications are still visible today.
The Pejo-Weiß-Weg however only skirts the Paustenbacher höhe and doesn’t lead to the Eifelkreuz.
Still a beautiful route though …
From here the loop returned toward Monschau …
The Westwall
