Hinterhausen: Village History and Hiking

Two aspects stand out when planning a stay in Hinterhausen: the historic village center and the Pferdsheckweg. The chapel and old houses shape the layout of the village center; the circular hike offers a clearly defined route with a specified distance and approximate duration. This lets you treat village history and hiking time as distinct focuses of your trip.

Chapel and Historic Village Center

The historic village center is arranged around a small chapel and old houses and is designated a cultural monument. The Catholic chapel is dedicated to Saint Lambert. These two details refer to different things: the designation applies to the village center, while the dedication applies to the chapel. For travelers interested in local history, these features provide a concrete context that takes account of both the overall layout and its central building.

The chapel is mentioned in visitation records from 1712; the present building dates from 1867. Surviving historical features include an antependium from 1748 and a bell from 1687. These dates mark different periods: 1712 refers to the written mention, 1867 to the present building, while the two furnishings have their own earlier dates. An antependium is a hanging on the front of an altar, and is therefore a different furnishing from the bell.

The Pferdsheckweg Circular Hike

The Pferdsheckweg is a circular hike that starts and ends at the chapel. The 7.1-kilometer route is estimated to take about two hours, with 199 meters of ascent and descent. These figures describe different aspects of the hike: the distance shows its length, the approximate duration gives you a time frame, and the elevation gain and loss reflect the terrain. For planning your day, treat the time given as a guideline, as it is explicitly approximate.

The route passes through the forests around Hermesberg. From viewpoints, you can see Gerolstein, the Kyll Valley, the wooded Eifel heights and the Wöllersberg volcano. The forest section is complemented by views of named places and landscapes. If you want to consider the scenery as well as distance and duration when choosing a hike, these viewpoints offer another factor to take into account.

Getting There and Practical Planning

Bus route 532 connects Gerolstein and Hinterhausen. If you are traveling by public transport, check the timetable before setting off. Free parking is available at the chapel or fire station, at the parking area by the shelter, and in the Hinterhausen holiday park. The chapel is both the starting and finishing point of the Pferdsheckweg and one of the listed parking options, so the route begins at the same named place where one parking option is located.

When planning your day, you can set aside about two hours for the hike and arrange your journey separately. If traveling by bus, checking the timetable in advance is the practical step; if traveling by car, you can choose from the listed parking options. This allows you to plan the approximate hike duration and the journey to Hinterhausen as two distinct parts of your stay.

Discover more destinations: Berlingen, Pelm, Duppach, Rockeskyll, Neroth, Salm, Densborn, Gees.

Back to the main travel overview: Gerolstein.