It is considered the main work of German Romanticism and a total work of art of the 19th century: the richly decorated Apollinaris Church. The circular hiking route starts here, leading diversely to passages with magnificent views and through shady forests.

The route starts off with a bang: The Apollinaris Church, built in the 19th century in the neo-Gothic style, surrounded by an impressive ensemble of monastery buildings, monuments, and gardens, lies on the slope of the Apollinarisberg. The first church buildings on this site are suspected as early as the 9th century. Since the 13th century, a relic of Saint Apollinaris has been on the mountain. In the crypt of the current church stands a 14th-century sarcophagus containing the main relic.

But the route still hasn’t shown all its strengths. A staircase behind the church leads to a viewpoint with a large statue of Saint Francis. From here, there is a fantastic view of the Apollinaris Church, the town of Remagen, and the northern Rhine valley.

After an ascent, the path circles the pond at Waldschlösschen, then leads on forest trails to Schloss Calmuth, which formerly housed the International Film Union. Among other things, newsreels were produced here in the 1950s, and numerous Laurel and Hardy films were dubbed. Today, the building is privately owned.

After another ascent over forest trails and a newly created path, the landscape opens up, and after a short time, you reach the hut at Scheidskopf. From here, there is a wonderful panoramic view towards the Hocheifel, and you can clearly identify the summit of the Landskrone in the relief. The path leads variably over fields and forested areas past the ostrich farm grounds (refreshment opportunities; check opening hours). With a bit of luck, you can see an ostrich herd through the bushes.

Over springy forest floor, you approach an open high plateau from where you can enjoy views to the Rhine and the Siebengebirge. Now the path alternates between forest and forest edge and leads us past a small heathland created by a forest fire and an old Jewish cemetery.

The Apollinaris loop now crosses the high plateau on the other side, passes a few farms, and offers impressive views of the Rhine valley again. A final steep descent brings us back to Remagen and our starting point at the Apollinaris Church.