Discover Faid: Church, Architecture and Hiking Trails

Faid can be discovered from two perspectives: the town’s history is reflected in its church, cemetery and historic homes, while the town is also a starting point for hikes towards the Moselle Valley and through the Wild Endert Valley. When planning your trip, you can therefore explore both tangible architectural and historical landmarks and natural landscapes. The historic buildings differ in age and architectural style; hiking trails offer their own points of interest, including trail conditions, places to rest and viewpoints.

Church and the town’s religious history

St. Stephen’s Church was built in 1750 and is dedicated to Saint Stephen. Faid became a parish in 1798. An earlier milestone was the establishment of an early mass foundation here in 1470. These dates relate to different aspects of the town’s religious history: the mass foundation, its elevation to parish status and the construction of the church. Together, they provide several points of reference over time rather than reducing the history to the construction date of a single building.

The church is open all day, Monday to Sunday. Check visitor information before your visit, as opening and access details may change.

Historic buildings in Faid

Faid has eight grave crosses dating from the 17th and 18th centuries. The cemetery also contains a sandstone cross dated 1847. Two transverse houses also offer a glimpse into the town’s architectural history. The half-timbered house at Dorfstraße 21 dates from 1750 and is partly built of solid materials. Another part of the architectural heritage is the plastered half-timbered transverse house at Stiergass 1, which dates from the 18th or 19th century.

Different features stand out in these examples: the grave crosses are defined by their function and period, while the transverse houses are notable for their architectural form, materials and dates. Both the house on Dorfstraße and the church bear the year 1750; the other landmarks point to different periods. Together, they offer a way to explore the town’s history through varied forms of architecture and remembrance.

Hiking and landscapes

Faid is a starting point for hikes through the Wild Endert Valley towards the Moselle Valley. The hike through the Wild Endert Valley follows stony paths, crosses several footbridges and passes some mills that have been restored to residential use. The trail surface, crossings and mills are defining features of this route.

Faid also has a signposted network of forest and hiking trails, with benches where you can rest in nature. The surrounding heights offer panoramic views of the old Bohnert-Kumb washing place and the Endert Valley. When planning, you can take the different highlights into account: the Wild Endert Valley hike is defined by its trail conditions and mills, while the heights are known for their resting benches and views.

Faid in the Cochem-Zell region

Another major cultural and historical attraction in the wider Cochem-Zell destination is Cochem Castle. The medieval castle was restored and rebuilt in the Neo-Gothic style by Louis Ravené in the 19th century, during the Romantic revival of castles. Rooms open to visitors include the Knights’ Hall, dining room, hunting room and ladies’ chamber. Cochem-Zell’s cultural and historical heritage thus ranges from Faid’s religious landmarks and half-timbered buildings to a medieval castle restored in the Neo-Gothic style.

The range of regional activities in Cochem-Zell also includes cycling along the river, hiking on vineyard paths and boat trips through the Moselle landscape. When planning your trip, you can choose between the hiking trails that start in Faid and other regional activities with different highlights.

Discover more destinations: Klotten, Dohr, Ernst, Ediger-Eller, Mesenich, Beilstein, Nehren, Bremm

View the wider travel guide: Cochem.