Discover Plein: Landscape and the St. James Cross

Plein lies between the Volcanic Eifel and the Moselle Eifel, on the northern edge of the Wittlich Depression. Both the landscape and the historic sights shape the character of the place and help define it as a travel destination. The Lieser, Lambach and Otterbach valleys, as well as the Seibertsgraben, are part of the surrounding landscape. You can get to know Plein not only through individual buildings, but also through its location between different landscape areas.

Landscape around Plein

Its location on the edge of the Wittlich Depression and between two Eifel regions gives the surrounding area a clear geographical setting. The valleys mentioned above and the Seibertsgraben add specific landscape features to this picture. If you are considering a stay in Plein, you can decide whether to focus mainly on the local landscape or on the historic sites. Both are different ways of experiencing the place, without reducing the sights to a single route.

Chapels, church and St. James Cross

Plein’s sights include the 17th-century Marienkapelle (Chapel of St. Mary) and the wayside chapel near Unkenstein. The latter is associated with the lost village of Ankast and a medieval pilgrimage route. The St. James Cross stands in the restored St. James Square and dates from 1749. It is made of red sandstone and depicts St. James as a pilgrim, with a staff, scallop shell and hat. The branch church of St. James, built in 1825, adds another religious building to the list. Together with the cross, it offers a second, later reference to St. James in Plein.

The restored former railway station is also one of the local sights and is considered an industrial monument. The different places are easy to distinguish by their character: chapels and a church stand alongside a pilgrim cross and a testament to the industrial era. If you would like to choose a focus while planning your trip, you can use these different themes as a guide instead of treating all the sights as similar historic places.

More to explore in the Bernkastel-Wittlich destination

According to its landscape description, the wider Bernkastel-Wittlich destination brings together the Volcanic Eifel, the Moselle Valley and the forest- and meadow-rich Hunsrück. Attractions mentioned there include the Erbeskopf: the 816-metre-high mountain is ideal for hiking and offers a wide range of winter sports. The National Park Gate at the Erbeskopf provides information about nature and the environment; its interactive multimedia exhibition focuses on forests and moors. This regional overview highlights different features from Plein’s description, which focuses on the depression, valleys and Seibertsgraben.

The wider Bernkastel-Wittlich destination also offers a range of options for visitors interested in culture. The pilgrimage church of Maria Heimsuchung in Klausen was consecrated in 1502; Klausen continues to attract pilgrims every year. The Zylinderhaus explores 90 years of German automotive history and displays more than 100 cars, motorcycles and vans. The Cusanus Birthplace in Kues has a permanent exhibition about Nicholas of Cusa; the house is used as a museum and event venue.

Wine enthusiasts can enjoy tastings of wines from the Moselle, Saar and Ruwer at the vinotheque in the historic vaulted cellars of St. Nikolaus Hospital. The selection includes 100 wines, from quality wines to ice wine. If you would prefer to include a specific route in your plans, the Bernkastel-Wittlich destination offers, for example, the 5.4-kilometre Manderscheid Castle Trail: a moderately difficult circular route with a stated duration of two hours. The Moselle-Maare Cycle Route runs for 58.5 kilometres along a disused railway line from Daun to Bernkastel-Kues; cyclists can book a return trip by bike bus from Bernkastel-Kues to the starting point in advance.

Find a hotel in Plein

When looking for a hotel in Plein, you can first decide whether the local landscape and heritage should shape your stay, or whether you would also like to explore other themes in the Bernkastel-Wittlich destination. Then choose an option that suits your trip.

Discover more destinations

Discover more destinations: Heidweiler, Altrich, Osann-Monzel, Dodenburg, Dreis, Minderlittgen, Klausen, Landscheid.

Back to the regional travel overview: Wittlich.