Konzen: Chapels, History and Paths on the High Fens

Konzen combines a long history with a range of ways to explore the surrounding area on foot or by bike. The village lies on the edge of the High Fens and in the spring basin of the Laufenbach. At the same time, its chapels and hiking trails recall the Carolingian period and the area’s former land use. Whether you would like to focus on historic sites, marked trails or views across meadows during your stay, these points of interest offer practical guidance for your trip to Konzen.

Chapels and Carolingian history

The Pankratius Chapel is located in the present-day cemetery, about 30 metres north of St. Peter’s parish church. Its eastern half is all that remains of the mother church of the Monschau region, built around 890. The chapel is believed to be the oldest stone church in the Monschau region. If you are interested in the village’s history, you will find several specific points of reference here: the historic church building, its surviving eastern half and its location in the present-day cemetery. A royal estate was also established in Konzen under Charlemagne.

The village’s history is also significant to the region in other ways: by the end of the 8th century at the latest, Konzen had become the centre of the Carolingian-era resettlement of the Monschau region, which had become reforested. This resettlement continued a settlement dating back to Roman times. Another landmark in the history of the church is the Quirinius Chapel. It was consecrated in 1968 on the site of an earlier chapel dating from 1679. Konzen thus brings together landmarks from different periods without requiring them to be combined into a single building history.

Trails with history and distinct features

The Kaiser-Karl-Weg combines physical activity with the history of Charlemagne’s former hunting grounds. Information about their distinctive features is provided at 17 stops and sites, with numerous information and activity boards relating to the Carolingian period. The trail is 8.6 kilometres long in total. These details can help you plan your day and make the trail a distinctive way to explore the area’s past. If you enjoy pausing at stops and combining information with a walk, this trail offers a different focus from a route centred mainly on landscape views.

The circular route “44 – Unterwegs in Konzen” is rated very easy to easy. Its first 1.2 kilometres lead southwest from the hiking car park via the “Liechewäch”. The trail also has historical significance: for centuries, the people of Mützenich carried their dead to the cemetery in Konzen along the “Liechewäch”. Its stated difficulty rating and specific route are useful details to consider when choosing this circular walk. They also distinguish it from the Kaiser-Karl-Weg, whose described focus is on sites associated with the former hunting grounds.

Meadows, the Laufenbach and the Vennbahn

The “Am Laufenbach” route passes through extensive meadows and offers views across the Laufenbach valley. It follows the former Vennbahn railway line for 1.1 kilometres. The landscape and the former railway line are two specific features of this route. When choosing your activities, you can consider whether you would prefer to focus on the views across the valley, the history of the Kaiser-Karl-Weg or the circular route through Konzen.

The Vennbahn is also an option for a cycling trip: within the municipality of Monschau, the car park on the B258 near Konzen is one of four listed starting points. This gives you a named starting point for planning, without implying a distance to the other trails. If you would like to include culture, hiking and cycling in your trip, you can take these interests into account when choosing a holiday apartment in Konzen without having to give every activity the same focus.

Explore more village pages

If you would like to visit more village pages, you can also find Rohren, Höfen, Mützenich and Kalterherberg here.

For the main travel overview: Monschau.