Baustert: Parish Church, Chapel of Grace and Themed Trail

Baustert combines a forested setting on the edge of the South Eifel Nature Park with sites that tell the story of its architecture and local history. Visitors who value historic architecture and heritage-listed sites as well as walks will find a range of points of interest here: St. Maximin Parish Church, the Chapel of Grace, the Brunnenstraße heritage zone and the Baustert-Brimingen Monuments Trail. The buildings and sites vary in age and character.

St. Maximin Parish Church and its Building History

The present-day St. Maximin Parish Church was built as a broad hall church onto an older tower between 1965 and 1967. The tower dates back to the church’s expansion between 1900 and 1910. This makes it possible to distinguish between two construction phases: the hall church is newer than the tower, which it incorporates. Parts of the predecessor building’s neo-Romanesque furnishings have been preserved inside, including a baptismal font, choir stalls, figures and capitals. The older inventory also includes a sandstone altarpiece created in 1823 depicting the Entombment, as well as wooden figures from the 18th century. For travelers interested in church architecture, what stands out is not only the form of the newer building, but also the juxtaposition of furnishings from different periods and layers of history.

The Chapel of Grace and Brunnenstraße

The Chapel of Grace was built in 1766 or possibly 1769 in gratitude for the birth of a child. In 1981, it was moved several hundred meters toward Hütterscheid, to the edge of the forest at a fork in the road, and rebuilt there as an exact replica. Old dressed stones and the original door-frame surround were used. The two possible founding years remain uncertain; the relocation and reconstruction, by contrast, clearly took place in 1981. This makes it possible to distinguish between the original reason for building the chapel and its later architectural history.

A different streetscape can be seen in the small Brunnenstraße heritage zone, also known locally as “Hilt.” Small farmsteads line the road as it climbs in a curve. Their buildings date from the second half of the 19th century and have largely retained their original appearance to this day. Unlike the parish church, the focus here is not a single building with several construction phases, but a group of farmsteads along a road.

Forest, Stream and Themed Trail

Baustert has a 100-hectare forested setting on the edge of the South Eifel Nature Park, inviting visitors to enjoy long walks. In the Berghausen district of Baustert, the Mühlbach has a particularly beautiful meandering course. The forested surroundings and winding stream are distinct landscape features of the village.

The Baustert-Brimingen Monuments Trail leads to heritage-listed buildings and numerous wayside crosses. Thirteen information boards along the route describe the sites, and the trail also passes St. Maximin Parish Church. It also reaches the Baustert Chapel. There, hikers can look inside and use the seating area to relax; its design may change. Anyone can sign the chapel’s guestbook. After the climb, the themed trail offers panoramic views across Baustert. The route thus combines historic stops with views over the village, while the individual boards focus on the respective sites.

Discover more destinations: Nattenheim, Oberweiler, Niederweiler, Halsdorf, Stahl, Biersdorf Am See, Oberweis, Fließem

For the main travel overview: Bitburg.