The Kyll
The Kyll is a 127.6 km long, northern and left tributary of the Moselle.
Apart from three short headwaters from the Belgian region of Wallonia, it flows through the German states of North Rhine-Westphalia and Rhineland-Palatinate. It is one of the longest rivers in Rhineland-Palatinate and is the longest and most water-rich river in the southern Eifel.
The name "Kyll" goes back to the Celtic word for "stream", gilum, which developed into Kila in the Middle Ages. Today, the word can also be found in numerous place names, such as Stadtkyll, Rockeskyll or Kyllburg.
The river flows through the districts of Euskirchen (North Rhine-Westphalia), Vulkaneifel, Bitburg-Prüm, Trier-Saarburg and the independent city of Trier (all Rhineland-Palatinate) in Germany, starting from the border of the Walloon region (Wallonia) in Belgium near its source.
The Kyll can be seen as the connecting element of the entire Eifel region. It flows through 15 of the local communities in Gerolsteiner Land (Hallschlag, Stadtkyll, Jünkerath, Gönnersdorf, Birgel, Lissendorf, Oberbettingen, Hillesheim, Dohm-Lammersdorf, Rockeskyll, Gerolstein, Pelm, Birresborn, Mürlenbach, Densborn).
Our tip: The Kyll cycle path meanders for a total of 121.4 km along the Kyll past numerous castles through the contrasting landscapes of the Eifel.
The Kyll is a popular fly-fishing destination for anglers.