Konz nestles on the Southwests border of Germany in a spot near the juncture of the Saar and Moselle river. Blessed with fertile hills and fiesty locals, the town has been settled since Roman times.
There are no less than 6 Roman temples here, and one ruined villa on display.
Yet hiking out the Roman history exhibits is only one of the things to do in the woods here. Traditional nature hiking is fine, but you can also be more directed. Be sure to see the sculptures, monuments, and museum they have hidden in their trees.
You can start with the Grana monument, which commemorates a victory over the French in the 1675 battle of the Bridge Concerts. From there, if you continue to walk along the river, you will stumble upon the Stones on the River. They’re a set of 16 sculptures created by 10 different artists, designed specifically to form a hike-worthy sculpture trail and put in place in 2007.
Also around 2007, Konz launched a revival of the open air museum in the woods as a tribute to the local rural life. The Roseheider Hof had long been a notable local estate, and was first designated as a museum in 1976, but it has now been extended.
The old crafts and tin toys museums have been renovated, and the extended grounds turned into a living museum with more than 4,000 square meters (more than 10,000 square feet) of folklore exhibits.
They’ve even rebuilt a miniature peasant’s village for tourists, complete with homes to wander in and out of and farming displays. Museum workers have been known to be in full costume, especially during the town festival days in July. Walking in and out of the various exhibits is a pleasant way to spend the afternoon, and the open grounds are certainly child-friendly.
The museum also celebrates the local wine culture, as most of the steep hills surrounding Konz are covered with vines. They supplement it with a large beer garden, and host town festivals and markets here.
You’ll want to be sure to come by for the special Christmas market. Held two weekends in Advent, you can buy local wines and crafts in addition to enjoying seasonal delicacies.