Kircheib: Basilica, Motte and Routes

For a trip to Kircheib, three distinct topics can be considered separately: the Romanesque basilica, Motte Broichhausen south of the village, and the B8, which runs through the village. They raise questions about sacred architectural history, medieval fortifications, and travel. You can therefore treat cultural attractions and transport connections as separate parts of your plans.

Romanesque Basilica and Architectural History

The Romanesque three-aisled pillar basilica has a western tower and is built of coursed rubble stone masonry. It was first mentioned in a document in 1131; the bells date from 1200 and 1535. The early mention and the later dates of the bells represent different points in the basilica’s history. Three-aisled describes the division of the church interior into three aisles. Western tower places the tower on the west side; coursed rubble stone masonry identifies both the material and the way it was constructed. This allows you to understand the building in terms of both its overall form and specific features of its construction. The dates of the bells therefore span the 12th to the 16th century.

Motte Broichhausen and the Route to the Protected Historic Site

Motte Broichhausen is an archaeological historic site south of Kircheib that is open to the public. The remains include a medieval mound, fortifications, and a water-filled moat. The site thus combines a landform with defensive features, which you can view during your visit as distinct components of a medieval fortification. A signposted route of around 1.5 km leads from Kircheib to the site, on foot or by bicycle. Allow for the possibility that local trail conditions may change, and check them before setting out.

Travel and Routes

The B8 runs through Kircheib and provides road connections towards Cologne and Bonn. A combined footpath and cycle path also runs through the village. If you would like to combine driving with rail travel, the park-and-ride stations in Eitorf and Hennef are possible connection points. You can weigh up whether the road connection or switching to rail better suits your journey. Check current traffic and service conditions before travelling.

More to Discover in the Wider Altenkirchen Destination

A historical connection in the wider Altenkirchen destination leads to Flammersfeld: in 1849, Friedrich Wilhelm Raiffeisen founded the “Flammersfelder Hülfsverein zur Unterstützung unbemittelter Landwirthe” there, the world’s first loan fund association. The association’s name already states its purpose: supporting farmers of limited means. Marienthal, also in the wider Altenkirchen destination, is still a popular pilgrimage site today. There, the Klosterdorfweg trail leads around the former Franciscan monastery and through the shaded Kurwald of the Archdiocese of Cologne. Flammersfeld and Marienthal have different focuses: the association’s founding is central in the former, while pilgrimage and the Klosterdorfweg trail are central in the latter.

Discover more destinations: Mehren, Gieleroth, Weyerbusch, Hemmelzen, Helmenzen

View the wider travel guide: Altenkirchen.