Wallscheid: Maar Landscape, Trails and History

Wallscheid is located in the Eifel and in the Vulkaneifel Nature and Geopark. The nearby maar landscape shapes the surroundings for visitors and provides the scenic backdrop for a stay in Wallscheid.

Trails through the Volcanic Eifel

In the surrounding area, the “Lavaweg” local trail and the “Kidstour – Vulkane Klein und Groß” cycling tour offer ways to explore the volcanic Eifel around Wallscheid. The two options have different focuses: the Lavaweg is a hiking route, while the Kidstour is a cycling tour. As routes may change or be rerouted in the future, check the latest route information before setting out.

Historical traces in Wallscheid

Among the village’s historical features is a chapel dating from 1777, dedicated to Saint Cornelius. Wallscheid’s historical context also includes archaeological finds from Celtic and Roman times. The chapel and the finds highlight different periods: the chapel points to a specific year of construction, while the finds span the area’s earlier history.

The wider Bernkastel-Wittlich destination

Beyond Wallscheid, the wider Bernkastel-Wittlich destination offers a broader scenic perspective: the volcanic Eifel, the romantic Moselle Valley, and the Hunsrück, rich in forests and meadows, meet there. To get your bearings, it helps to distinguish Wallscheid’s Eifel character from the variety of landscapes across the wider destination.

Nature and hiking

At 816 metres high, the Erbeskopf invites visitors to go hiking and offers a wide range of winter sports. The National Park Gate at the Erbeskopf provides information about nature and the environment; its interactive multimedia exhibition focuses on forests and moors. Thus, the wider destination offers not only hiking and winter activities but also opportunities to learn about nature.

A more precisely defined hiking option is the Manderscheid Castle Trail: this moderately difficult circular route runs for 5.4 kilometres around the castles of Manderscheid and has a stated duration of two hours. Another format is the Castle Via Ferrata. It has three stages, is about four kilometres long in total, and has safety cables along one kilometre. These details describe different types of routes and their respective time and distance parameters.

Culture and other excursions

The Maria Heimsuchung pilgrimage church in Klausen was consecrated in 1502; Klausen is still a pilgrimage destination every year. In Kues, the Cusanus Birthplace is used as a museum and event venue and features a permanent exhibition about Nicholas of Cusa. Both examples connect historic places with different visitor interests: pilgrimage in one case, and the life and work of Nicholas of Cusa in the other.

Cycling in the regional context

For longer cycling routes, the Maare-Mosel Cycle Route runs for 58.5 kilometres from Daun to Bernkastel-Kues along a disused railway line. Cyclists can take a bike bus from Bernkastel-Kues back to the starting point; the return journey can be booked in advance. Check the latest timetable before planning your trip. This route therefore offers a different time and distance framework from the nearby cycling tour around Wallscheid.

Discover more destinations: Eckfeld, Karl, Meerfeld, Großlittgen, Niederscheidweiler, Pantenburg, Greimerath, Hasborn

Back to the wider travel overview: Manderscheid.