Erbeskopf (818 m)

If you climb the observation tower on the Erbeskopf on a mild summer evening, breathe deeply of the mountain air, slowly relax, and take in the view of the endless hills, knolls, plateaus, and valleys, you will inevitably feel something of the special lure of this old cultural landscape of Hunsrück, which has evolved and been preserved over thousands of years. Smoke rising in the distance reminds you of the people in the region, who have fought for their existence here since time immemorial; people who have had to deal with war, senseless destruction, and foreign rule time again and again —something that is very hard to imagine in this peaceful landscape. Luckily the cold war of the last century is long past, for which the extensive military installations on the top of Erbeskopf were intended. These can now rightfully lie peacefully dormant. Incidentally, it doesn't have to be a mild summer evening for the unique Hunsrück atmosphere here on Erbeskopf to work its magic on you. Try it on a day when it isn't so beautiful. When, for example, the fall storms, quite fittingly, rush over the land and dense clouds block your view. When wisps of fog are blown in again and again, making people and the surrounding nature almost invisible. Or go in the last days of October, when the cold wetness chills you and the rain interspersed with snowflakes heralds the definitive end of fall. Be there in the spring when the valleys are already long since blooming even though the last remains of snow brazenly persist here. There are many opportunities for a trip to Erbeskopf, not to mention in winter. For the area around Erbeskopf is a famous ski area where enthusiastic skiers go as soon as enough snow has fallen. The winter sports center on Erbeskopf offers three downhill runs that are served by four ski lifts. There is also a fast toboggan run as well as a ski school. Altogether there are 40 km of trails at the disposal of cross country fans —trails that lead to the winter sport center on Idarkopf.

The woods around Erbeskopf are among the most beautiful and most primeval in the entire Hunsrück region. So how would it be to take a small circular tour in the area as an initial exploration? It is best to start at the observation tower on top of Erbeskopf after a proper "breakfast" at the picnic place of fresh bread, cheese and coffee. Fortified by this, the way first leads to the crest of the mountain ridge of Hochwald westwards over Springenkopf (784 m) to Viehauskopf (721 m) and from there down into the valley to a mountain spring named after Siegfried, one of the "Nibelungen" heroes (Siegfried-Quelle). This idyllic and very secret spring is actually a well contained in stone. After a suitable rest we continue through the deep forest to the hamlet of Thranenweiher, where we encounter the Nibelungen legend once again. Here, according to local tradition, the beautiful Krimhild, after Siegfried's murder by the grim Hagen von Tronje, had shed a never-ending stream of bitter tears.