Üttfeld: Roman traces and church art in Binscheid

Roman villa between Niederüttfeld and Oberüttfeld

In the “Auf der Burg” district between Niederüttfeld and Oberüttfeld, the foundations of a Roman villa were uncovered in 1990/91. The villa was probably built around the middle of the 1st century AD and abandoned in the first third of the 4th century AD. The surviving building phases provide a clear timeframe for the site: the complex’s history spans several centuries of the Roman era.

The villa included a well-preserved bathhouse with a frigidarium, or cold room, and a caldarium, or hot room. Each room had its own water basin. The names make the rooms’ different functions easy to understand and give the bathhouse a tangible character, rather than defining the complex solely by its date. Using a smartphone or tablet, visitors can bring the villa to life virtually at its original site near Oberüttfeld and access information about it. As the app’s availability may change, it is advisable to check before visiting.

Church art and tradition in Binscheid

A ceiling painting in the choir of St. Nicholas Parish Church in Binscheid depicts the seven sacraments of the Catholic Church in a liturgical context. Christoph März created the painting around 1900. The church’s Renaissance high altar dates back to the beginning of the 17th century. St. Nicholas thus brings together works of art from different periods, each offering its own way of exploring the history of the church interior.

The restoration of the ceiling painting is also part of its history: it was painted over after the Second World War, uncovered again in the 1980s under Pastor Kasel, and painstakingly restored. A baptismal font stands in front of the church. According to local tradition, Saint Willibrord baptised people in it. This story should be understood as tradition. Another recurring feature of the parish church is the cave nativity scene: every year, the Hommerding family creates an elaborate display from roots, branches, and fir trees, lit to create an atmospheric effect.

Cycling along the former railway line and enjoying the views

The “Cycling along the former railway line” tour runs between Üttfeld and Arzfeld, near Üttfeld. It follows the railway line between Prüm and Neuerburg. The section described here is closely connected with the landscape of the rugged Islek: the barren soil supports broom and thorn bushes, and the plateau stretches as far as Luxembourg. If you are interested in the landscape as well as church and cultural history, the cycling tour offers a different focus from the local cultural attractions.

Holiday stays and more ideas

Üttfeld has several inns and holiday homes for holidays or short stays. If you are considering a holiday home, check availability for your dates. Information material about inns and holiday homes in Üttfeld is available from the tourist office at Luxemburger Straße 6 in Arzfeld.

Find more ideas for places to visit in the Eifelkreis Bitburg-Prüm. The Mühlenberger Stollen Bleialf visitor mine includes a mining trail with numerous information boards about the area’s mining history. During one-hour guided tours, visitors learn about ore mining in Bleialf, from geology to the technology used; check current tour dates in advance. At the Devonium in Waxweiler, complex concepts in palaeontology and the science of fossil life are explained in a playful way. The Westwall Museum is housed on three accessible levels of a bunker and features a military history exhibition in underground corridors and rooms.

The water castle of Rittersdorf, around 700 years old, is also one of the places to visit in the Eifelkreis Bitburg-Prüm. It has remained almost unchanged since it was built and offers a glimpse of late-medieval and modern Renaissance residential culture. The castle also has a privately run restaurant serving refined regional cuisine. Check whether the restaurant is open before you travel.

Discover more destinations

Discover more destinations: Lauperath, Großkampenberg, Dasburg, Daleiden, Lünebach, Eilscheid, Neurath, Lambertsberg

Return to the main travel guide: Arzfeld.