Burbach – Wayside Crosses, History and Nature

Landscape and Activities in Burbach

Truffvenn bei Burbach lies northeast of Burbach. The 6.4-hectare area was placed under protection in 1986. Together with its location on the boundary between two landscape regions, this provides a specific setting for exploring the local natural environment. The activities mentioned vary: in addition to walks along the trails, fishing and a visit to the Lietzenhof golf course are listed as other options in the local profile.

Church, Local History and Historic Houses

The parish church of St. Margaretha dates back to a chapel built in 1756 and was substantially extended in 1950. Its construction history thus spans two clearly distinct periods. A wayside shrine dating from 1812 stands in the churchyard; another, dating from 1718, is near Hillstraße 17.

Rural architecture is also represented by specific buildings and dates. A single-storey house with a livestock stall and field kitchen, dating from 1824, stands at Heldstraße 6. The Flurküchenhaus at Talstraße 3 dates from 1778 and received an extension in the early 20th century. The town’s history goes back further: Burbach is recorded in 1570 under the name “Boirbach.” One local interpretation understands the name to mean “house by the stream.”

Wayside Crosses and Pilgrimage Connections

Several wayside crosses can be distinguished by their dates and locations along roads and paths. A niche cross from 1658 stands on the road from Burbach to Balesfeld, near the municipal boundary. A niche cross from 1727 is northeast of Burbach, on the old ridgeway to Seffern. A niche cross at the junction with the former route from Burbach to Balesfeld dates from 1605.

A beam cross from 1790 stands on the old ridgeway to Seffern, about 500 metres south of the other crosses. West of Burbach, a shaft cross from 1822 stands at the junction of the Neustraßburg–Nimshuscheid and Burbach–Wawern roads. These location details make the crosses’ connections to paths, roads and junctions part of the area’s historical orientation.

The Köhlerkreuz is a small late-Baroque beam cross in the Kyllwald forest, on the pilgrimage route between Neuheilenbach and Weißenseifen. It is associated with the pilgrimage route from the northern Eifel to Trier’s St. Matthias Abbey. It stands near a hunting lodge, about ten metres from the path. For those interested in pilgrimage routes, this connection is a distinct aspect alongside the crosses on the roads around Burbach.

More to Explore in the Wider Destination of Eifelkreis Bitburg-Prüm

Beyond Burbach, the wider destination of Eifelkreis Bitburg-Prüm offers a range of themes for a stay. Bitburger Land encompasses the Kyllburger Waldeifel, the Bitburger Gutland and part of the Islek. The region promotes hiking trails in the NaturWanderPark delux and cycling routes along river valleys.

The Mühlenberger Stollen Bleialf visitor mine combines a mining trail with numerous information boards about the area’s mining history. The one-hour guided tours cover ore mining in Bleialf, from geology to the technology used. For specific visit planning, it is advisable to check the tour dates. At the Devonium in Waxweiler, complex concepts in palaeontology and the science of fossil life are presented in a playful way. The Westwall Museum is housed on three accessible floors of a bunker; its military history exhibition extends through underground corridors and rooms.

The water castle of Rittersdorf, around 700 years old, has remained almost unchanged since its construction and conveys a picture of late medieval and Renaissance domestic culture of the modern era. The castle houses a privately run restaurant serving fine country cuisine; check that the restaurant is open before your trip. Thus, alongside Burbach’s nature and history, the wider destination offers other distinct reasons to choose the area.

Discover more destinations: Niederpierscheid, Sinspelt, Neuerburg, Sevenig bei Neuerburg, Geichlingen, Scharfbillig, Bitburg, Seffern.

View the wider travel overview: Eifelkreis Bitburg-Prüm.