Manderscheider Burgenstieg

The spa town of Manderscheid is most famous for two medieval castle ruins that stand directly opposite each other on steep mountain spurs not far from the town's alleyways. The massive complexes are separated only by the little Lieser river and a meadow, which in summer becomes a perfect place for a breather while hiking the Eifelsteig trail or for a family picnic with children. On a weekend in August, however, the castles and the meadow are ideal settings for a spectacular festival with quaint crafts, jugglers, jousting tournaments and minstrel singing. In Advent, the Manderscheid Castle Christmas lends the town a special magic. The freely accessible upper castle with its five-storey keep still looks martial today. The lower castle can be explored on guided tours - even at night - or on your own; it only remains closed in bad weather.