Discover Krautscheid

Around the hilltop village of Krautscheid, the view stretches far across the heights of the Eifel. Two specific attractions are central to choosing this destination: the Catholic branch church of St. Valentine and hiking trails that include Krautscheid in their routes. This makes it possible to explore the destination from the perspective of both architectural heritage and the range of routes on offer.

St. Valentine’s Church and the Way of St. James

The Catholic branch church of St. Valentine is located at Kapellenstraße 1. It is a two-bay hall building with a chancel tower; its core is probably Romanesque. The slate-covered tower spire ends in an unusual point made up of two nested pyramids. This design and the striking detail of the tower give the church a distinctive architectural profile.

In 1984, the chapel in Krautscheid was placed under special protection as a cultural monument, in agreement with the State Office for Monument Preservation. It is also a pilgrims’ stop on the Way of St. James to Santiago de Compostela. Architecture, monument preservation and pilgrimage thus provide three distinct points of interest for anyone interested in the church.

Hiking trails with different features

The Berkoth Chapel Circular Trail (Route 2) runs over asphalt, natural paths and short stretches of trail and is rated difficult. It is suitable for experienced hikers with a good basic level of fitness. You can start the route in Berkoth or at any of the other places mentioned, including Krautscheid. Local conditions may affect the terrain and difficulty, so check local route information before setting out.

The Lauperath Chapel Circular Trail connects the chapels in Lauperath, Krautscheid and Bellscheid over a distance of about 13 km. Nature Park Southern Eifel Hiking Trail No. 91 is a circular route through the hilltop villages of Krautscheid, Lauperath and Bellscheid, as well as Waxweiler. The trails can be distinguished by their different features: an approximate length is given for the Lauperath Chapel Circular Trail, while the difficulty level and terrain are described for Route 2. For information on the routes of the Lauperath Chapel Circular Trail and Hiking Trail No. 91, it is also advisable to check local route information before setting out.

More attractions in the Eifelkreis Bitburg-Prüm

The wider destination of Eifelkreis Bitburg-Prüm offers additional cultural and visitor attractions. The Devonium in Waxweiler presents complex concepts in palaeontology and the science of fossil life in an engaging way. The Mühlenberger Stollen Bleialf Visitor Mine offers one-hour tours through the mine, where visitors can learn about ore mining in Bleialf, from geology to applied technology. Check seasonal opening information before visiting.

The Westwall Museum is housed on three accessible floors of a bunker and presents a military history exhibition in underground passages and rooms. The water castle of Rittersdorf, around 700 years old, has remained almost unchanged since it was built and offers an impressive picture of late-medieval and Renaissance domestic culture of the modern era. The castle also has a privately run restaurant serving fine country cuisine; check whether it is open before your trip.

Discover more destinations: Seiwerath, Prüm, Wallendorf, Seffern, Schloßheck, Oberstedem, Röhl, Sinspelt.

Back to the overview of the wider destination: Eifelkreis Bitburg-Prüm.