Discover Wassenach

If you are looking for a hotel in Wassenach, the town’s history and the distinctive features of Mauerley can help you understand the character of the destination. St. Remigius brings together several building phases, while Mauerley reveals geological features and traces of quarrying. The Höhlen- und Schluchtensteig trail also passes directly by Wassenach.

St. Remigius and the historic townscape

The parish church of St. Remigius is a three-aisled Neo-Romanesque church completed in 1852. Its smaller tower comes from a chapel first mentioned in 1322; the newer tower was completed in 1898. The church thus brings together different periods of construction: evidence of the older chapel, the 19th-century church building and the later completion of the tower.

Inside is a marble high altar dating from 1771, with figures of Augustine, Remigius and Ambrose. The stained-glass windows were donated by Wassenach families in 1928. The altar and windows therefore add their own historical details within a church completed much later.

Another point of reference in the historic townscape is the Burghaus. Built in 1772, the building forms the centrepiece of the historic buildings in the town centre. While St. Remigius reveals several construction phases, from evidence of the older chapel through to the 19th century, the Burghaus represents an 18th-century building.

Mauerley: basalt lava and the history of quarrying

Mauerley in Wassenach is a naturally exposed basalt lava flow. Traces of quarrying can also be seen there, including evidence of wedge splitting and blasting. These visible traces add the history of how the volcanic material was used to the geological picture.

This use spans several periods: volcanic material was already extracted at Mauerley in Roman times. In the Middle Ages and the modern era, people quarried basanite there. The different references to quarrying and rock describe distinct aspects of the site’s history; they cannot be combined into a single period of quarrying.

The block fields are also part of Mauerley’s character. They provide habitats for some rare animal and plant species. Mauerley thus brings together a geological exposure, evidence of quarrying and special habitats at a named location.

Mauerley is freely accessible at all times. Access arrangements may change in future under the site management, so check them before your visit. The Höhlen- und Schluchtensteig trail, which passes directly by Wassenach, is also relevant to hikers. Check route information before setting out.

Geological themes in the Laacher See National Geopark

The Laacher See National Geopark focuses on the geological and mining history of the volcanic Eastern Eifel. Its offerings include geopaths, hiking and cycling routes, visitor mines and museums. Laacher See bears witness to one of the strongest volcanic eruptions in Central Europe. Together, these themes convey the regional context of volcanism, rock and the history of extraction, without equating Mauerley’s local features with the Geopark’s offerings.

Ahrweiler: culture and trails in the district

In Ahrweiler, the Haus der Schützen displays art-historical treasures from the past three centuries. These include uniforms, pictorial documentation and historic marksmen’s rifles. Ahrweiler’s three marksmen’s associations have operated a museum since 2002; visits are by appointment.

At the Roman villa on the Silberberg in Ahrweiler, visitors can see a model of the Roman estate and watch an audiovisual presentation. These offer independent insights into Ahrweiler’s history, separate from the church and geology themes in Wassenach.

At district level, the certified hiking trails Rheinburgenweg, Eifelleiter and AhrSteig are in the Ahrweiler district. The Rotweinwanderweg and numerous marked local trails add to the district’s hiking network. For cycling tourists, the Ahrweiler district also promotes various routes, particularly the Rhine Cycle Route and the Ahr Cycle Route.

Discover more destinations: Maria Laach, Oberzissen, Niederdürenbach, Wehr, Burgbrohl, Dedenbach, Glees, Weibern.

View the overarching travel overview: Brohltal.