Oberelz: Circular Routes, the Elzbach and Village History

The name Oberelz refers to its location along the upper reaches of the Elzbach. When planning a stay, the local attractions can be grouped into distinct themes: the history centers on St. Nicholas and the little forest chapel; for outdoor activities, there are two circular routes starting and ending in Oberelz, as well as the Elztal Cycle Route, which runs through the village. When planning your trip, you can decide whether the village’s history, hiking routes starting in Oberelz or a longer cycling connection should shape your days.

Church and Forest Chapel

The Catholic branch church of St. Nicholas is a hall church dating from 1750 and is considered a local cultural monument. St. Nicholas is also the patron saint of the church and the village. The building’s architectural form, date of construction and patronage give it a clear connection to the village’s religious history.

The Oberelz forest chapel was built in 1823 at a crossroads of forest paths northwest of the village. Residents of Oberelz renovated it in 1964; it was listed as a protected monument in 1986. The date of construction, renovation by local residents and protected status are thus each dated.

Hiking on Two Circular Routes

Circular Route 3 is a 9.6-kilometer loop starting and ending in Oberelz. The route is listed as taking three hours and gaining 120 meters in elevation. It connects Oberelz with Retterath and Arbach, passes a small chapel and the parish church of St. Remigius, and follows the Elz Valley on the way back. If specific stops matter to you as well as the distance, this route offers a time and elevation profile, along with named places and buildings along the way.

Circular Route 4 is a 7.2-kilometer loop that also starts and ends in Oberelz. The route follows the Elz Valley and the Ahlsbach Valley, passes through woodland and returns to Oberelz. It is 2.4 kilometers shorter than Circular Route 3, for which a duration of three hours and an elevation gain of 120 meters are also listed. A PDF route description for Circular Route 4 is available to download. Check whether the download is still available before planning. Trail conditions can change, so it is a good idea to check for updates before setting out.

The Elztal Cycle Route through Oberelz

The approximately 31-kilometer Elztal Cycle Route follows the Elzbach through Oberelz. It runs from Gunderath via Uersfeld and Lirstal to Oberelz, through the Elz Valley to Monreal and onward to Mayen. Unlike the two circular hiking routes, which start and end in Oberelz, this cycling route connects several places on its way through the Elz Valley.

The section between Gunderath and Monreal is considered family-friendly because of its topography and family-oriented facilities. This description applies specifically to that section of the cycling route. If you are comparing hiking and cycling routes, consider both the circular routes’ local starting and ending point and the cycle route that runs through Oberelz.

The Vulkaneifel as a Regional Setting

In the wider Vulkaneifel destination, 77 maars have been identified to date. A total of 350 eruption centers have also been counted there, around 270 of them from the more recent phase. These figures add a broader regional geological context to local points of interest such as hiking trails, the cycling route and historic buildings.

Discover more destinations: Uersfeld, Reimerath, Berenbach, Nitz, Drees, Brücktal, Katzwinkel, Mannebach

For the broader travel overview: Kelberg.