Discover Wawern: Art, Trails and Traditions

Art and History in Wawern

The St. Apollonia Chapel in Wawern features an 18th-century altar dedicated to the Fourteen Holy Helpers as its central work of art. The wall paintings were created by Christoph März, the “Painter Pastor of Eschfeld,” between 1929 and 1931. This brings two periods of very different dates into focus: the 18th-century altar and the later paintings.

A late Baroque cross made of red sandstone stands on the main road in Wawern. It is a shaft cross, also known as a bellflower cross, without an inscription, dated 1758 and assigned to the so-called Seffern type. The wayside cross at Burgstraße 7 is classified separately: in the Register of Cultural Monuments in the Eifelkreis Bitburg-Prüm (as of 2024), it is listed as a shaft cross with the date “1797 (?)”.

Another trace leads to the present-day cadastral district of “Hirscheid.” In 1932, ten Celtic graves and a cremation furnace were discovered northeast of Wawern. Well-preserved urns, glazed plates and bowls, as well as jewelry, fibulae and brooches from the Wawern finds can now be seen at the Rheinisches Landesmuseum in Trier. If you would like to explore this archaeological theme in greater depth, you can include a museum visit in your cultural itinerary and check the latest visitor information.

Hiking Trails and Traditions Throughout the Year

Wawern has two signposted hiking trails, numbered 7 and 8. These numbers provide a concrete starting point for planning a hike. As trail signage can change, check the signs locally before setting off.

Local traditions also give your travel dates a special focus. The traditional fair has been held every year since the 1960s on the weekend after August 18. On April 30, the volunteer fire brigade puts up the maypole, which the children decorate with a crown. A parade organized by KV Legendär takes place on Carnival Saturday. If you want to plan your trip around one of these dates, check the latest event information in advance.

These events differ in timing and character: the fair has its fixed place in August, the maypole raising is associated with April 30, and the Carnival parade takes place on Carnival Saturday. When choosing a holiday apartment, you can therefore consider whether you want a particular tradition to shape your stay or whether you would rather focus on chapel art, local history and the hiking trails.

More Things to See in the Eifelkreis Bitburg-Prüm

In the wider travel destination of Eifelkreis Bitburg-Prüm, the Mühlenberger Stollen Bleialf visitor mine offers an insight into mining history: a mining trail with numerous information boards covers the history of the area. One-hour guided tours through the mine explore everything from the geological background to the practical technology of ore mining in Bleialf. Check current dates and seasonal information before booking a tour.

The Devonium in Waxweiler presents complex concepts in paleontology and the science of fossil life in an engaging way. The approximately 700-year-old Rittersdorf moated castle offers another focus on cultural history. It has been preserved almost unchanged and gives a vivid impression of late medieval and modern Renaissance residential culture. The castle also has a privately run restaurant serving fine regional cuisine; check whether the restaurant is open before your visit.

Discover more destinations: Auw bei Prüm, Neuerburg, Euscheid, Mützenich, Weinsheim, Giesdorf, Übereisenbach, Sellerich.

Go to the wider travel overview: Eifelkreis Bitburg-Prüm.