Day trips & escapes

The 6 best things to do in the Mullerthal, ranked

5 min read

Sandstone gorge on Mullerthal Trail near Berdorf

The top three

1. Hike a section of Mullerthal Trail Route 2 from Berdorf to Echternach. About 12 km through the best sandstone gorges (Wanterbaach, Räuberhöhle) with mossy walls and narrow slots. 2. See the Schiessentümpel waterfall — the postcard triple-cascade near Mullerthal village, 15 minutes on foot from the parking area. 3. Visit Echternach basilica and the abbey grounds; St Willibrord's crypt is the oldest important religious site in the country, dating from the 7th century.

Route 2 is the reason people come to the Mullerthal — the sandstone slot canyons, ferns, and moss make it feel more like a temperate rainforest than a small European country. Wear real hiking shoes; the sandstone gets slick. Schiessentümpel is easy and good for anyone not up for a full hike. Echternach town is small and manageable in an hour; combine it with Route 2 if you’re driving, since it's the natural start or endpoint.

Three more for a full day

4. Beaufort Castle — both the medieval ruin and the adjacent Renaissance château, which can be visited together. 5. The Perekop viewpoint near Berdorf, a rock formation with a narrow passage between sandstone walls, five minutes from a car park. 6. Larochette, a small village with another ruined hilltop castle and a couple of decent lunch spots; makes a natural morning stop en route from the capital.

Beaufort is the best castle in the Mullerthal region and less crowded than Vianden — the Renaissance building interior includes furnished rooms. Perekop is a short walk that rewards effort out of proportion to the distance. Larochette is a pleasant pause rather than a destination; don’t structure a day around it. Skip the Mullerthal amusement park unless you’re travelling with young children — it's fine, not memorable. The region rewards hikers most; if you don’t want to walk, it's just pretty scenery from a car.

Frequently asked questions

Can I do the Mullerthal by public transport?

Yes, but with limits. Bus 110 from Luxembourg Gare to Echternach runs regularly; from Echternach, local buses reach Berdorf and Mullerthal village but check schedules — some connections are hourly or worse.

How hard is Trail 2?

Moderate. There are stairs, roots, some scrambling in the narrow passages, and it's slippery when wet. Not for anyone with knee issues, but standard hikers manage it fine.