The most captivating aspect of this hike through the Eifel is its extraordinary variety. Hallmarks of the landscape like the imposing rock formations at Ehrensteinsley, the wild and romantic Rur Valley, forest trails teeming with wildlife, the outstretched meadows around Kalerherberg with stately rows of beech trees and hawthorn hedges, and last but not least, the great Perlenbach Valley Dam; hikers on this loop are guaranteed a wildly varied and unforgettable landscape experience. As you walk through each of these environments, the trail is lined with the flowers and plants specific to the habitat. One of the valley’s best-kept secrets is the slope near Reichenstein that in springtime is covered with daffodils as far as the eye can see, turning the valley wall into a yellow sea of flowers. And there are also points of cultural interest, like the former Premonstratensian monastery Reichenstein and its water Lily Pond, the Norbertus Chapel, and the many picturesque highlights of the idyllic and inviting former textile-making town of Monschau. Anyone who has strolled along the avenues of half-timbered houses in medieval Monschau understands why this historic town is sometimes called “the pearl of the Eifel”.