The renaturalisation of the moors is one of the primary objectives of the Hunsrück-Hochwald National Park in order to allow nature to be herself again. Moors, known as ‘Brüche’ (singular ‘Bruch’) in the Hunsrück, store lots of carbon dioxide and play an important role in times of climate change. The rangers of the Riedbruch near Thranenweier have built a wide raised walkway made of oak through the moor. All around the walkway, the moor has already been renaturalised. This has involved felling fir trees and filling in drainage ditches. The resulting boggy moorland is a valuable habitat for many rare species of flora and fauna.
The walkway through the moor is short and even, and easily manageable even for wheelchair users or families with pushchairs. The ‘Inseltour’ (island tour) begins at the rangers’ meeting point in Thranenweier and takes a route just short of two kilometres through the moor. However, as there are some slight inclines on the circular tour, wheelchair users are welcome to borrow one of the quiet yet powerful SWISS•TRAC wheelchair tractors from the national park office in advance.
A pathway on the barrier-free circular trail in Thranenweier in the Hunsrück-Hochwald National Park
The first thing you notice on the island tour is a series of little hills in a meadow. These are home to the little yellow meadow ants, which feed on the honeydew of the root aphid. At the next station along the walkway, you will spot the unusual bell tower in Thranenweier. It is the landmark of the little village, which is home to just 30 people. Its bells still toll at funerals or if there is a fire. In the olden days, the infamous bandit chief Schinderhannes is said to have terrorised the region.
One of the stations on the ‘island tour’: the Thranenweier bell tower in the Hunsrück-Hochwald National Park
Unspoilt nature in the Riedbruch moor in the Hunsrück-Hochwald National Park
The tour gets its name from the island-like clearings in the forest, which were originally created to graze cattle. These days, especially at dawn and dusk, it is a wonderful place to watch the different species of deer feeding on the wide variety of plants that grow there.
Just before the circular tour ends up back at its starting point, you can relax and enjoy the view over the pond with its beautiful water lilies. It is the setting for a scene from the famous Nibelungen saga in which Kriemhild mourns her husband, Siegfried the dragon-slayer. Hagen von Tronje killed the virtually invulnerable hero out of jealousy and resentment. Kriemhild herself had, in good faith, revealed the one small spot where Siegfried could be injured. When this became clear to her, she cried so many tears that a lake of tears, or ‘Tränenweiher’, grew up around her, and over time this became Thranenweier.
Discover unspoilt nature in the moor near Thranenweier, Hunsrück-Hochwald National Park
A stop along the accessible pathway in Thranenweier in the Hunsrück-Hochwald National Park
The Ochsenbruch hill moor is one of the most unspoilt in the national park. It is near Börfink. The nine-kilometre Börfinker Ochsentour will take you there. As the osprey circles around the trout lake, the 5,000-year-old moor has something to attract visitors all year round. In spring, you will find wild narcissus and daphne. In summer, there are numerous butterflies dancing in the sunshine. And on cold, misty days, the green cushions of peat moss shimmer a rich dark green.
