Kaiser Karl trail

Today I went hiking in Monschau-Konzen. The starting point is the parking lot by the church in Konzen, and the trail leads through sections of forest and fenland. That is to say, today I hiked back in time and in the footsteps of the Carolingian kingdom. The Emperor Charlemagne Trail in the Monschau region tells the story of the 7th to 10th centuries. The circular hiking trail has existed since 2014 and was created to commemorate the 1200th anniversary of Charlemagne's death. The people of the Eifel region still feel a strong connection to the ruler, as the region gained enormous importance through his empire. Numerous interesting information panels and activity boards relating to the Carolingian era transform the hike into a historical and cultural excursion. The hiking trail is 8.7 km long in total, but can also be shortened to 4, 5, or 7.5 km if needed. Furthermore, from the path you can see the grounds of the Hardthof, the former royal estate, where the predecessor of the Pankratius Chapel is also believed to have stood. The chapel is considered the oldest post-Roman building in the Rhineland. It is located directly on the path behind the parish church. Who was Charlemagne and what did he achieve in his time? Charlemagne – muscleman, power politician, and educational revolutionary – he was anything but boring. He was born around 747, the son of Pepin the Short and Bertrada of Laon. His grandfather? None other than Charles Martel, the man who had paved the way to power for the Franks at an early age. Charlemagne thus grew up in a true ruling dynasty. After his father's death, Charlemagne initially had to share power with his brother Carloman I – a classic partnership of convenience. When Carloman died unexpectedly in 771, Charlemagne suddenly became sole ruler. Was he saddened by this? Let's just say: The sources are politely silent. Charlemagne lived up to his name. For his time, he was enormous, powerfully built, and imposing—someone you couldn't miss, even without a crown. He loved hunting, roast meat, and good food, and was not particularly enthusiastic about medical advice. When doctors recommended diets, Charlemagne apparently responded with the motto: "Eat first, regret later." And yes—one wife wasn't enough for him. Charlemagne had several wives and concubines, as well as numerous children. The man clearly knew how to plan dynasties. In his later years, he was likely plagued by gout or rheumatism. His solution? Aachen. The warm thermal springs were considered healing—and Charlemagne made extensive use of them. He bathed there regularly, often with his entourage. You could say: a medieval spa with imperial perks. Aachen became his favorite residence. There, he had the Palatine Chapel built—today the core of Aachen Cathedral. The building is octagonal (the 8 being the number of resurrection) and is modeled after San Vitale in Ravenna. Charlemagne wanted to demonstrate that: His empire was not based solely on swords, but on divine order. After his death in 814, he was buried in Aachen. A throne of stone – and a symbol for centuries Charlemagne's throne still stands in Aachen Cathedral today: simple, made of plain marble slabs, presumably from Rome or Jerusalem. No gold ornamentation, no ostentation – pure symbolism. And yet: Over 30 German kings were crowned upon it. Aachen was THE coronation site of the empire between 936 and 1531. Charlemagne's influence thus extended far beyond his own lifetime. The emperor who could barely write Now comes the irony of history: Charlemagne could read, but probably never wrote properly. His biographer Einhard reports that Charlemagne even tried to learn to write in his old age. Allegedly, he would lie at night with wax tablets under his pillow to practice—unfortunately, with limited success. And yet, he was the very man who launched the Carolingian educational reforms. Savior of Knowledge – Father of Europe Charles founded monastic schools, supported scholars, and ordered the careful copying of ancient texts. Without him, the works of Virgil, Cicero, and Tacitus would likely have been lost forever. He thus laid the foundation for a shared European educational and cultural heritage. That is why he is still called: Charles the Great – the “Father of Europe.” An emperor with muscles, flaws, humor, a keen instinct for power— and the astonishing talent to make history, even though he himself could barely write. In conclusion—an interesting hike that is also suitable for families. However, the amount of asphalt is quite high, and the route could be better signposted. Otherwise, I enjoyed it very much.

Today was the annual family hike. Under the expert guidance of Conni, we hiked the Kaiser-Karl-Weg (34). We started from the parking lot at the church in Konzen. In a good mood, with international guests, even an Australian was there, we started with good Eifel weather. After about 2.5 km km was the first break, food and drinks brought along would be enough 🚶‍♂️🚶‍♀️🚶‍♀️🚶‍♂️🚶‍♂️🚶‍♀️🚶‍♀️🚶‍♂️🚶‍♀️🙂. After the break, it went through the muddy forest around the Vörene Börich in the direction of Steling (658 meters), through the Hatzevenn and Staffelbusch. We then walked along the Laufenbach and Troisdorf ponds and then back to Konzen via the Liechewach. It was again a complete success with thanks to our expert group leader Conni! 👍😃. I wish everyone a good evening, until the next family hike 😉🙋‍♂️

Pleasant walk on both sides of the Vennbahn with scenery that makes you think you are in Switzerland. Very passable route despite the heavy rains of the last few days....

Today's hike had a special charm again. The paths offered variety in terms of the surface conditions - snow covering, still a bit slippery in places, muddy sections and easily walkable stretches. We skipped the detour via the smugglers' path (not walkable). Nevertheless, a very beautiful route with a visit to the church in Konzen (very beautiful nativity scene), heated room and access to a toilet in the next room 😉

Today we went to the Entenpol car park near Konzen. Then we followed the Kaiser-Karl-Weg on paths that were partly asphalted and partly muddy. The sun was kind to us the whole time and even allowed us to take a short break at a rest area on the Vennbahn route. The part through the Venn had too much forest and too little Venn for our taste. But we particularly liked the Laufenbach. The stations along the way were also nice, where you could learn something about Charlemagne or the history of Konzen and the Monschau region.