HeimatSpur Mühlenpfad – GesundLand Vulkaneifel

The start and finish of this home trail is the Hotel Molitors Mühle, which is a great place to stop for a rest at the end of the hike. Along the idyllic Salm, the trail leads first to the former Cistercian Abbey of Himmerod, a place of peace and contemplation in the midst of the most beautiful Eifel nature. After crossing the Salm at the abbey, the trail leads to the small Eifel village of Eisenschmitt. Today a secluded natural paradise, this area was known centuries ago for its iron ore deposits, which were mined and processed along the current hiking trail. Where blast furnaces, hydroelectric power plants and quarries once dominated the landscape, today the natural Salm meadows enchant hikers.

Beautiful, short, mostly shady route on narrow paths with places to stop for refreshments at the Himmerod Monastery and the Molitors Mill. In Eisenschmitt there is a beer garden along the way, but it is probably only open at certain times....

https://www.ich-geh-wandern.de/m%C3%BChlenpfad-im-oberen-salmtal-ferienland-manderscheid "The mill path in the upper Salm valley begins at Himmerod Monastery. Himmerod Monastery was founded in the 12th century as a Cistercian monastery. It is said that Bernhard von Clairvaux is said to have personally determined the location and said: "This is really an island for the Blessed Virgin Mary. " From the Himmerod monastery you hike up the Salm valley in the direction of Eichelhütte and on to Eisenschmitt. Eisenschmitt was the template for the place Eifelschmitt in Clara Viebig's novel Das Weiberdorf. The publication caused a small scandal. Today you can find out more about the author at the Clara Viebig Center in Eisenschmitt, which opened in 2005. From Eisenschmitt, return on the mill path on the other side of the Salm. You pass Molitor's mill. The local iron industry was once based here. In 1870 Nikolaus Molitor bought the site and ran the grain mill, developed a dynamo with W. Feuser and brought electricity to the Eifel. The mill was in operation until 1957. In 1963 a hotel was built in the place of the mill and the Molitors mill is still family-owned today. From Molitor's mill it goes past the ponds back to Himmerod Monastery. Today only ten monks live and work in Himmerod Monastery. In the former mill, Himmerod Monastery runs the Alte Mühle Museum, which shows the history of the monastery, an art and bookshop, as well as a restaurant and fishery. In a guest and retreat house you can get a taste of monastic life." Arrival by car: 50°01'43.9"N 6°45'07.2"E

Very nice hike from the monastery along the Salm to Eisenschmitt. After a rest at the fountain, we went left of the Salm back to Himmerod Monastery.

A local trail, suitable for hikers who like to walk with little elevation. It offers you narrow paths and wide trails along the Salm, through the Salmbach valley. You cross the village of Eisenschmitt and are sent further along trails to Himmerod Monastery. From there you go back to the starting point, first along a wide path, which later becomes a trail.