Discover Kirchsahr

Kirchsahr combines religious art and a long local history with hiking trails in the Sahrbach Valley and traces of mining. This brings together different interests to consider when planning a trip: medieval art in St. Martin’s Church, nature watching in the valley and on the heights, and the history of old mines. If you are planning a stay, you can decide whether cultural history or outdoor hikes will play a greater role in your itinerary.

St. Martin’s Church and Kirchsahr’s History

The small stone church was rebuilt around 1730; its foundations date back to approximately 1100. A church is believed to have existed as early as around 1105, but the first reliable documentary evidence dates from 1302. The two early dates represent different kinds of evidence: the church’s existence around 1105 is an assumption, while 1302 marks the first reliable written record.

St. Martin’s Church houses a late-medieval triptych from the Cologne School, dated to around 1400–1408. The Crucifixion is at its center; 18 additional panels depict scenes from the life and Passion of Christ. The church also contains a rare Madonna of the Turks. The altarpiece was originally commissioned by the monastery in Bad Münstereifel and has been on display in the church since 1782. For travelers interested in culture, a visit here combines the opportunity to view a cycle of paintings with the story of a work that has been in the village for centuries.

Hiking in the Sahrbach Valley

The Sahrbach Valley hiking area has a network of around 80 kilometers of trails, extending from Kreuzberg to the state border near Kirchsahr. In the Sahrbach Valley, 19 hiking trails branch off from three main routes. One specific route is the 8.6-kilometer Sahrbach Trail, the main route through the hiking area. These figures describe different scales: around 80 kilometers refers to the network, while 8.6 kilometers refers to the main trail.

Twelve information boards along the Sahrbach Trail cover the valley’s flora, fauna, history, crafts and culture. One of the trail’s highlights is a protected wet meadow. The valley offers views across the heights of the Eifel and glimpses of nature as it changes in the valley and on the surrounding heights. A hike therefore takes in both landscape and topics relating to nature and local history. As conditions on individual trails may change, check the latest trail information before setting out.

Mining History and Tunnels

Mining continued as a tradition in Kirchsahr well into the 20th century. Some former mine tunnels provide habitats for bats and other animals; their use as habitats may vary seasonally. At the Gretel Tunnel, maps show the locations of old mine entrances and the ores mined in Kirchsahr. The entrance is designed to let visitors look into the tunnel, and restored mine carts stand outside. If you plan to visit the information displays, check that they are up to date, as such displays may change.

The Old Tunnel in Binzenbach lies directly on the Sahrbach Trail and extends approximately 30 meters into the mountain. Check its access conditions on site before adding it to your hike. Alongside its landscape and nature topics, the trail also offers points of connection with mining history.

Discover more destinations: Kesseling, Heckenbach, Dernau, Liers, Binzenbach, Ahrbrück, Mayschoß, Rech

For the broader travel overview: Altenahr.