An orchard trail featuring more than 50 types of fruit, traces of a Roman villa and distinctive churches give Mülheim-Kärlich a varied character. Nature and history sit side by side here: you can plan your trip around whether you would rather explore the landscape and trails or learn about architectural history and archaeological finds.
Orchards and trails on the Kärlicher Berg
The orchard trail, covering around 12,500 square metres, lies on the slope of the Rübenacher Berg. It showcases more than 50 different types of fruit and explains the characteristics of stone-fruit and pome-fruit trees. Examples mentioned include peaches, rare apple varieties and elderberries; the cherry trees that are characteristic of Mülheim-Kärlich are also featured. Andreas Anheier offers guided tours of the trail at irregular intervals. If you are interested in a tour, check locally in advance for current availability.
For a walk with a view, the Kärlicher Berg is another option: it lies in the south of Mülheim-Kärlich at 202 metres above sea level and is well suited to a long walk. The Traumpfad Streuobstwiesenweg offers panoramic views of the Rhine Valley and the Vulkaneifel. The orchard trail, by contrast, focuses on the variety and distinctive features of fruit trees.
The two named trails can also be distinguished by their routes. The MK3 Kirschblüten-Panoramaweg (Cherry Blossom Panorama Trail) starts at the Nass-Spielplatz at the Hoorweiher in Mülheim. It passes the Lucasweiher and Lucas Mill, follows the Lützelbach and runs along paved farm tracks through orchards and elderberry fields before returning to the starting point. The MK5 Kärlicher Bergweg leads from the hilltop through orchards to the southern edge of Kärlich, passes the Sonnenhof along a paved farm track and returns west through orchards to the Kärlicher Berg. There is a hiking car park at the starting point, Dalfter, in the Kärlich district. The Kiesrundweg (Gravel Circular Trail) takes up a different theme and offers insights into the extraction of raw materials between Mülheim-Kärlich and Urmitz.
From Ice Age finds to local history
The area around the Kärlicher Berg is one of the most significant sites in Western Europe for Ice Age animal remains and Homo erectus artefacts. Homo erectus is believed to have lived here more than 600,000 years ago. In front of the Bergheiligenhäuschen, information boards explain geological developments, archaeological finds and the economic use of clay. The mountain thus brings together landscape and a settlement history reaching far back into the past.
Another archaeological site is the restored remains of the walls of a Roman villa rustica in the southern part of the city. It was discovered in 1983 during pumice extraction. The estate was in use in the 2nd and 3rd centuries AD; the remains of the walls stand up to 80 centimetres high and measure 70 by 35 metres. An ancient underfloor and wall heating system dating from the 3rd century AD can also be seen there. The site brings the scale of the complex and a specific detail of its fittings to life.
The Mülheim-Kärlich City Museum was founded in 1985 and has been housed together with a café in the former fire station since 2003. Exhibits include a fully furnished classroom and a shoemaker’s workshop from the first half of the 20th century. The hunting lodge marks an earlier chapter in the town’s history: Elector Johann II of Baden had it built around 1480, and it was destroyed in 1635 during the Thirty Years’ War.
Churches and practical information for your stay
Maria Himmelfahrt in Mülheim is a three-aisled Neo-Gothic hall church. Its 60-metre-high tower and construction from volcanic Krotzen stone clad with tuff slabs give the building distinctive architectural features. St. Mauritius in Kärlich has a long history at its present site; the church has remained there throughout. Together with the hunting lodge and the museum’s exhibits, it offers further ways to explore the town’s history.
Cyclists can use 51 kilometres of cycle paths in Mülheim-Kärlich, including the Rhine Cycle Route. The town lies north of Koblenz, close to the Rhine Cycle Route. If you are planning a specific ride, it is worth checking the route in advance. When looking for a hotel, you can take your interests into account: the trails and orchard-related attractions make the area appealing for a landscape-focused trip, while the museum, churches and archaeological sites offer additional connections to cultural history.
Discover more destinations: Spay, Ditscheid, Kalt, Oberfell, Monreal, Winningen, Niederfell, Volkesfeld
View the regional travel overview: Mayen-Koblenz.
