Hunsrueck

Schinderhannes, the notorious bandit, has long since disappeared from the vast forests of the Hunsrück. In his place are adventurous walkers following in the footsteps of the Romans and the Celts and exploring their ancient settlement sites in these hills. Walking through moorland, across wooden walkways and along strang piles of quartzite blocks means walking along the Saar-Hunsrück-Steig, recently voted Germany's most beautiful long-distance trail.
Ringed by the Moselle, Nahe, Rhine and Saar rivers, the Hunsrück is "Heimat" country - that epic family saga watched by millions, not just in Germany.
But the Hunsrück has a whole host of other fascinating attractions: old mills beside babbling brooks, mighty castles and sleepy little towns such as Herrstein or Kastellaun where visitors are reminded of long-gone days, exploring the ruins of mediaeval fortifications and strolling along lanes lined with timber-framed buildings in the old quarters.
Paths lead from these romantic spots to the Erbeskopf (818m), the Hunsrück's highest peak, from where the whole countryside with its forests, valleys and riverside meadows lies at your feet. Fill your lungs with Hunsrück air, some of the cleanest in the whole of Germany.