Papiermühle: Chapels, Hiking Trail and Cycling Routes

Papiermühle combines distinctive route layouts with two different chapels. A circular hiking trail passes through Papiermühle, a district of Neumagen-Dhron; two cycling routes include the village in their itineraries in different ways. Other points of interest include the history of the wayside chapel, the conversion of the St. Konrad von Parzham chapel to a new use, and an archaeological find in the Dhron valley. This makes hiking, cycling and local cultural heritage the main focus when planning a trip.

Hiking the “Rund ums Dhrönchen” Circular Trail

The “Rund ums Dhrönchen” circular hiking trail passes through Zummethöhe, Dhrönchen, Heidenburg, Papiermühle and the Kron riding stable before returning to Zummethöhe. In the order listed, Papiermühle lies between Heidenburg and the Kron riding stable; from there, the circular trail continues back to Zummethöhe. Papiermühle is therefore one stop along a loop. When planning your route, you can consider the village part of a circular trail that starts and ends at Zummethöhe.

Cycling Routes with Different Connections

The two cycling routes give Papiermühle different roles. The “Mosel Cycle Tour with Roman Flair” returns to the Moselle below Hunolstein via Gräfendhron and Papiermühle; in Neumagen-Dhron, it joins the Moselle Cycle Route. On the “Nahe-Hunsrück-Mosel Cycle Route,” the described section follows a quiet farm track from Papiermühle along the Dhron to Neumagen-Dhron. The routes therefore differ in their orientation: one is described as returning to the Moselle and connecting to the Moselle Cycle Route; the other focuses on following the Dhron and ending the section in Neumagen-Dhron. The connection to Neumagen-Dhron does not mean the routes follow the same course: for the Mosel Cycle Tour, the connection to the Moselle Cycle Route is noted there, while for the Nahe-Hunsrück-Mosel Cycle Route, it is the destination of the described section. As road conditions can change, check the current route conditions before setting out.

Two Chapels, Different Histories

The wayside chapel in Papiermühle is a simple building, closed on three sides, dating from the second half of the 19th century. Its entrance has a pointed arch; the wall decoration, created using roller-stamp technique (pattern roller), is now rare and gives the chapel a distinctive touch. The pointed arch is part of the exterior form, while the roller-stamp technique characterizes the wall decoration. These are two distinct architectural details.

The St. Konrad von Parzham chapel has a different history: it was consecrated on June 24, 1954, and renovated in 1986. It is located near the confluence of the Kleine and Große Dhron rivers. Following its successful conversion to a new use, it is a multipurpose space owned by the local municipality. The wayside chapel stands out for its design and wall technique, while St. Konrad is notable for its documented history, location at the confluence and multipurpose use.

An Archaeological Find in the Dhron Valley

An archaeological find adds to the area’s cultural heritage. In 1974, eight graves were uncovered on the western slope of the Dhron valley, a few hundred meters before Papiermühle. Finds included fragments of jugs, bowls, pots and plates containing cremated remains. Archaeologists interpreted the discovery as part of a burial ground. Cremated remains are the burned remains of human bodies; the excavation and archaeological interpretation are therefore two distinct aspects of the find.

Discover more destinations: Kleinich, Graach on the Moselle, Mülheim / Mosel, Andel, Monzelfeld, Burgen, Veldenz, Brauneberg

For the overview of the wider area: Bernkastel-Kues.