Krautscheid: Chapels and sweeping Eifel views

Krautscheid is a hilltop village whose surroundings offer sweeping views across the heights of the Eifel. A distinctive cultural landmark is the Catholic branch church of St. Valentin: it has an unusual architectural design and is also a pilgrimage stop on the Way of St. James to Santiago de Compostela. Several circular trails also include Krautscheid. The landscape, chapel culture and hiking therefore offer concrete starting points for planning a holiday trip.

St. Valentin: distinctive architecture and pilgrimage route

The church is located at Kapellenstraße 1 and is a two-bay hall church with a chancel tower. Its core is probably Romanesque. Particularly striking is the slated spire, with an unusual tip formed by two nested pyramids. In 1984, by agreement with the State Office for Monument Preservation, the chapel was placed under special protection as a cultural monument. Its role as a pilgrimage stop on the Way of St. James adds another specific point of reference to its architectural and heritage significance: St. Valentin is both a building in Krautscheid and a stop on the route to Santiago de Compostela. Those interested in architecture will find characteristic structural features here; those following the Way of St. James can place the chapel along its route.

Hiking routes with different features

The information on the three routes differs considerably. The Berkoth Chapel Circular Trail (Route 2) runs along paved roads, natural paths and short stretches of trail, and is rated difficult. It is suitable for experienced hikers with good basic fitness. You can start in Berkoth or at any of the other listed locations, including Krautscheid. Surface conditions and difficulty ratings may be affected by local conditions.

The Lauperath Chapel Circular Trail connects the chapels in Lauperath, Krautscheid and Bellscheid over approximately 13 km. Nature Park Südeifel Hiking Trail No. 91 is a circular route through the hilltop villages of Krautscheid, Lauperath and Bellscheid, as well as Waxweiler. The differences can help you choose: the approximate length is the main feature of the Lauperath circular trail, Route 2 specifies its difficulty and surfaces, while the nature park trail passes through several places. Check local route information before setting out; the route of the nature park trail may change.

Culture and discoveries in the Eifelkreis Bitburg-Prüm

The wider travel destination of Eifelkreis Bitburg-Prüm offers topics ranging from mining and fossils to the history of bunkers and castle culture. The Mühlenberger Stollen Bleialf visitor mine includes a mining trail with numerous information boards about the area's mining history. One-hour guided tours through the tunnels illustrate ore mining in Bleialf, from geology to applied technology. If you are planning a tour, check seasonal operating information before your trip.

The Devonium in Waxweiler presents complex concepts in palaeontology and the science of fossil life in a playful way. The Westwall Museum offers a different perspective on history: it is housed across three accessible floors of a bunker and features a military history exhibition in underground passageways and rooms. The water castle of Rittersdorf, around 700 years old, has remained almost unchanged since it was built and offers an impressive picture of late-medieval and modern Renaissance residential culture. The castle also has a privately run restaurant serving fine country cuisine; check whether it is open before visiting.

Choose your holiday focus when selecting a location

When looking for a holiday apartment in Krautscheid, you can use the focus of your stay as a guide: for days spent visiting chapels and hiking, the village itself is the main attraction. If you would like to include other cultural or educational topics, also consider the wider travel destination of Eifelkreis Bitburg-Prüm. This lets you choose a location based on the experiences that interest you most during your holiday.

Discover more destinations: Prüm, Zendscheid, Niederweis, Kyllburg, Waxweiler, Rittersdorf, Wißmannsdorf, Schlausenbach.

See the overview of the wider travel destination: Eifelkreis Bitburg-Prüm.