In addition to the seven “official” mountains, the Siebengebirge has many other elevations well worth a hike. On this short tour, we’ll visit the Nonnenstromberg – one of the “official” seven – as well as the Weilberg and the Stenzelberg. Along the way, we’ll also explore the monastery garden of Heisterbach.
Shortly after the start, we ascend the first peak: the Stenzelberg. Here, bizarre rock formations await us – remnants of the former quarry. Informational panels provide insight into the mountain’s historical economic use. The path then passes the first possible rest stop: the Waidmannsruh inn (closed on Tuesdays – as of April 2019).
After the fairly steep climb up the Nonnenstromberg, we encounter a special feature of the Siebengebirge: this is the only mountain with an extended ridge trail. You can walk along it for several hundred meters before the descent begins. The trail continues on to the Heisterbach Monastery, with its beautiful monastery garden and several small, partly hidden, sacred buildings and statues. The highlight is, of course, the impressive ruins of the monastery church. You can stop for a break at the Klosterstube café (no closing day). There is also a public restroom on site, located across from the café.
After a thorough visit to the monastery garden, we cross the country road and continue our hike to the third mountain. On the Weilberg, two scenic viewpoints offer sweeping views of the steep rock faces left behind by quarrying. Geology enthusiasts will easily spot various visible rock layers – a pair of binoculars can come in handy here.
After a few hundred more meters, we reach the Weilberg parking lot and only need to cross the road. The “Im Mantel” parking area is located directly opposite.
