Steiningen: Horse Blessing, Chapels and Routes

Steiningen offers several distinct points of interest: a tradition of blessing horses that has been maintained since the mid-18th century, chapels with historical connections, and two road cycling routes that pass through the village. Mehren, with its own network of trails, is another starting point for walks.

Tradition and Chapels

The tradition of blessing horses has been maintained in Steiningen since the mid-18th century. Visitors from surrounding villages come to the chapel for the Easter Monday celebration. This makes the holiday a recurring focal point for the tradition. If you would like to plan your trip around this occasion, make sure to plan accordingly.

The chapels also have their own historical significance. The St. Mauritius Chapel in Steiningen is said to be a place where relics of Saint Mauritius are kept in the altar. The Allscheid Chapel between Steiningen and Darscheid is considered the last surviving building of the abandoned village of Allscheid and a reminder of emigration in the mid-19th century. These two connections give the chapel landscape different points of interest: relics in the altar in one case, and the history of an abandoned settlement and its emigration in the other.

Barbecue Hut: Use Under Clear Rules

Use of the barbecue hut is subject to a set usage period, which covers time spent inside the hut and in the forecourt, as well as use of the toilets. Toilets are available. Barbecuing is permitted only at the designated fire pit. Check the current rules and the condition of the facilities before use; conditions may change. This makes it possible to plan a visit to the barbecue hut as a separate activity, without treating its use as the same thing as the hiking or cycling routes.

Hiking: Distinguishing Mehren from the HeimatSpur

Mehren’s network of trails connects with trail networks in surrounding villages, Eifelverein routes and the Vulkaneifel trails, making longer hikes possible. Routes around Mehren range from about two to four kilometres to around 15 kilometres and pass through forests, meadows and farmland. The different distances help you choose how much time to spend: shorter routes are available alongside significantly longer tours.

The HeimatSpur Täler- und Höhenweg in Steiningen is described as a moderately difficult hike. It is 14.6 kilometres long, with a stated duration of four hours. This allows you to compare it with the shorter trails around Mehren based on specific route details, without conflating the two trail areas. Check current trail conditions before setting out.

Cycling Routes Through Steiningen

The Vulkaneifel-Challenge passes through Steiningen on the route between Mehren and Steineberg. Another road cycling route, “hard & demanding,” also passes through the village and covers almost 120 kilometres with nearly 1,900 metres of elevation gain. These figures show the difference in scale between the two cycling options; the longer tour also involves considerable elevation gain. Before setting off, it is worth checking the latest route details, as they may change.

The Vulkaneifel as a Wider Hiking Region

In the Vulkaneifel, the Vulkaneifel trails range from half-day and full-day hikes to multi-day treks; the routes are marked and signposted. Together with the connection to Mehren’s trail network, they provide a wider hiking region that extends beyond individual local routes. The distinction is useful for planning: the HeimatSpur in Steiningen has a specified distance and duration, while the Vulkaneifel trails include different types of tours.

Discover more destinations: Mehren, Udler, Strohn, Demerath, Dockweiler, Dreis-Brück, Brockscheid, Oberstadtfeld.

Go to the main travel overview: Daun.