Rathsweiler - St.Julian - Veldenz-Wanderweg - Stage 2 (Leading-Quality-Trail - Best of Europe)

Along the way, romantically-situated benches invite you to sit down and enjoy the views.

Food and refreshments are available at the restaurant "Zum Steinalbtal" in Niederalben.

Now we dive into the dense forest of Rathsweiler, past   the entrance of a disused mine. It continues uphill along narrow, winding paths and after leaving the forest we have also left behind us Rathsweiler. Along the lush hillside meadows we can already see the Mittagsfels   but before we climb up to it, we descend into Niederalben, past the pottery belonging to   Doris Horbach. The Steinalp feeder river flows into the River Glan at Niederalben where it meanders idyllically through the valley . Passing horse paddocks we reach Niederalben and then, at the cemetery can take the climb up to the nature reserve of Mittagsfels.

Almost   Alpine in character the climb   is   long and strenuous so that you need correspondingly   sturdy shoes, but on the other hand, it is so exciting and varied in character that the effort needed to climb it is a minor matter. Rare plants and fascinating rock formations characterize the trail, as well as the    wide open views   into Steinalptal and Glantal - and all in a glorious silence. Having then reached the summit, a snack is an absolute must!

We continue walking along the ridge and then go up along the edge of a military training area along winding paths to arrive at St. Julian, the end of this 2nd stage.