Karl: Wayside Shrine Art and Hiking Trails

Karl combines religious visual art with attractions for hikers and nature lovers. The wayside shrine depicting the Crucifixion on the village square is considered a sign of local popular piety; the Lieser Trail runs close to Karl. This gives Karl different focal points to consider when planning your trip, from a historic work of art to longer routes in the region.

Wayside Shrine and Chapel

The colorful wayside shrine depicting the Crucifixion on the village square is considered a sign of local popular piety. It was made in the Wolff workshop in Wittlich and erected in 1703. Its imagery depicts scenes from the Passion of Christ, winged angel heads, and Saint Catherine. Grapes, apples, foliage, and elaborately crafted fruit garlands add to its decoration. Religious depictions thus stand alongside carefully executed plant and fruit motifs.

Another historic detail can be found in the old chapel: it contains a Rococo columned altar from the late 17th century. The wayside shrine and altar each provide a different focal point; together, they give visitors interested in culture concrete insights into the town’s religious art history.

Hiking along the Lieser

Karl offers varied surroundings for hikes and nature-focused experiences. The Lieser Trail runs close to Karl. It follows the natural course of the Lieser through deep forests and passes through idyllic valleys and impressive rocky landscapes. The river, woodland, and changing terrain are at the heart of the hiking experience.

The route details also differ significantly: a shorter hiking section from Karl to Himmerod is 7.8 kilometers long. Eifelsteig Stage 12, by contrast, starts in Manderscheid, passes through the Lieser Valley to Himmerod, and is 18.2 kilometers long. The stage is listed as taking about five and a half hours and as being of moderate difficulty. Check route details and plan your route before setting off.

Views from Burgberg

The Burgberg viewing platform lies high above the Lieser Valley and offers sweeping views across the Eifel landscape. A shelter with wooden benches stands right beside it, where hikers can take a break. The platform is close to the Eifelsteig. The views, the place to rest, and the location on the hiking trail create a distinctive element of the landscape experience here.

The wider Bernkastel-Wittlich destination

The wider destination of Bernkastel-Wittlich brings together the volcanic Eifel, the romantic Moselle Valley, and the Hunsrück, rich in forests and meadows. The 816-meter-high Erbeskopf invites visitors to hike and offers a variety of winter sports. At Erbeskopf, the National Park Gate provides information about nature and the environment; its interactive multimedia exhibition focuses on forests and peatlands.

The wider destination also offers culture and history. The pilgrimage church of Maria Heimsuchung in Klausen was consecrated in 1502, and Klausen continues to be a destination for pilgrims every year. The Cusanus birthplace in Kues is used as a museum and event venue and features a permanent exhibition about Nicholas of Cusa. So, alongside experiences in nature, visitors can explore religious history and learn about a historical figure.

In Bernkastel-Kues, the Vinothek in the historic vaulted cellars of St. Nicholas Hospital offers tastings of wines from the Moselle, Saar, and Ruwer. The selection includes 100 wines, ranging from quality wines to ice wine. Wine and historic cellars thus complement the hiking and cultural attractions of the wider destination without replacing Karl’s distinctive features.

Discover More Destinations

Discover more destinations: Oberscheidweiler, Eckfeld, Laufeld, Wallscheid, Pantenburg, Meerfeld, Niederscheidweiler, Eisenschmitt.

Go to the wider travel overview: Manderscheid.