Discover Philippsheim in the Kyll Valley

Philippsheim lies in the Kyll Valley. Visitors considering it as a destination will find several points of interest: Roman remains, an oral tradition about the town’s founding, the history of sandstone quarrying and rail transport, and leisure activities such as fishing and hiking on marked trails. These topics offer different insights into the town and its development.

Landscape and trails in Philippsheim

The Kyll Valley provides the landscape setting for Philippsheim. Three local hiking trails have a combined length of 18 kilometres. Fishing offers an alternative leisure activity to hiking. Visitors who want to spend most of their time exploring on foot can take the combined distance of the three local routes into account when planning their stay.

Leyköpfchen is also close to Philippsheim. This prehistoric hilltop fort adds another historical dimension alongside the Roman remains. The area’s past therefore extends beyond a single period; Leyköpfchen is a distinct nearby point of interest and should not be confused with the local hiking trails.

Roman traces, Kyll sandstone and railway history

Philippsheim is home to the remains of a Roman palatium. An oral tradition about the town’s founding links its origins to fishing in the Kyll. This account describes a different chapter in the town’s history from the later development brought about by quarrying Kyll sandstone: extracting sandstone on both banks of the Kyll contributed to the expansion of the settlement of Philippsheim.

The railway shaped further chapters in the town’s history. From 1871, Philippsheim served as a railway station for 15 surrounding towns. From 1900, the Binsfeld-Philippsheim-Kleinbahn created numerous jobs; the small railway remained in use until 1965. The dates mark different aspects: first, Philippsheim’s role as a station serving the surrounding area, and later, the small railway’s importance for employment and transport.

Philippsheim railway station has bicycle and car parking. As station facilities may change, please check this information before your trip. When planning your arrival, you can thus take into account both the local transport history and the station’s practical facilities.

More places of interest in the Eifelkreis Bitburg-Prüm

The wider Eifelkreis Bitburg-Prüm destination encompasses other distinct points of interest in addition to Philippsheim’s local profile. At the Mühlenberger Stollen Bleialf visitor mine, a mining trail with numerous information panels covers the area’s mining history. One-hour guided tours through the mine explain ore extraction in Bleialf, from geology to applied technology. Check tour times in advance when planning your visit.

At the Devonium in Waxweiler, complex concepts in palaeontology and the science of fossil life are presented in a fun, engaging way. The Westwall Museum is housed on three accessible floors of a bunker; its underground corridors and rooms contain a military history exhibition. These two examples show different approaches to natural science and history in the Eifelkreis.

The water castle in Rittersdorf, around 700 years old, has remained almost unchanged since it was built. It offers an impressive picture of late medieval and Renaissance domestic culture of the early modern period. The castle also has a privately run restaurant serving fine regional cuisine. Check whether the restaurant is open before your trip.

Discover more destinations: Orenhofen, Hosten, Preist.

View the wider travel guide: Speicher.