Bachem – Wine Village, Chapels and Walking Trails

Bachem is a historic wine village known for growing Frühburgunder grapes. The village’s history includes a former communal bakehouse and several chapels; named trails also lead through the vineyards or to the Lourdes Chapel. Bachem therefore brings together historic buildings, winemaking and walking routes. When planning your stay, it may help to compare these highlights: you can get to know the village through its chapels and history, or focus on trails into the surrounding countryside.

Historic Buildings and Art

The former communal bakehouse, built in 1650 with a communal room, has housed the Bachem Winegrowers’ Museum since 1978. The year it was built and the start of its use as a museum mark two distinct phases in the building’s history. The museum also reflects Bachem’s character as a wine village known for its Frühburgunder grapes. This offers a way to connect the village’s history both with a specific building and with winemaking.

The Chapel of St. Anne offers a different perspective on the past. Its southern part was built in the Romanesque period, probably around 1220. The chapel also contains a Gothic Madonna and Child from the early 15th century. These dates refer to different things: the construction period of part of the chapel and a work of art. Together, they show that the history of St. Anne spans more than a single period.

The Chapel of St. Leonard adds to this picture: it was built in 1716 on the western edge of Bachem. The buildings mentioned here therefore represent different periods, from the Romanesque era through the early 15th century to the 18th century. If you are interested in historic architecture or religious art, these dates offer a concrete point of reference without suggesting that the chapels were all built at the same time.

Lourdes Chapel and Trails Through the Vineyards

The Lourdes Chapel lies above Himmelsburger Straße, hidden in Bachem’s Wiesental valley. It has become a place of pilgrimage and is especially popular with hikers and walkers. Its location connects a religious destination with the landscape of the valley. The Lourdes Chapel is a destination on Stage 6 of the AhrSteig: the stage descends into the valley of the Bachemer Bach to the chapel.

Other routes offer different highlights. Circular Tour Bad Neuenahr No. 3 starts and ends at the Lourdes Chapel, not far from Bachem, and leads to the “Bachemer Sonnenschein” vineyard. The Medical Walking Trail MK I also leads to the Lourdes Chapel and through Bachem’s vineyards. The routes differ in their focus: on Stage 6 of the AhrSteig, the descent into the valley leads to the chapel; the circular tour is defined by its starting and ending point at the chapel, while MK I connects the chapel with the vineyards. The “Bachemer Sonnenschein” vineyard is a specifically named destination on the circular tour.

When choosing a route, the destinations and connections described here may be most helpful: a chapel in the valley, a trail to a vineyard, or a route through the vineyards. The information does not specify walking times or difficulty levels, so plan using the route information that is relevant to you. As trail conditions can change, check the latest information about your chosen route before setting out.

Discover more destinations: Marienthal, Ramersbach, Walporzheim, Ehlingen, Heppingen, Heimersheim.

Go to the main travel guide: Bad Neuenahr-Ahrweiler.