Eichenbach: Forest Trails, Chapel and Regional History

Eichenbach lies almost entirely within a designated bird sanctuary and, with the Fourteen Holy Helpers Chapel, also offers a local cultural and historical landmark. Hiking routes and a road cycling tour provide further concrete points of interest. When planning your trip, you can first decide whether nature, exercise or regional history should shape your stay. These interests can also guide your search for accommodation in Eichenbach.

Hiking between forest and village

The third stage of the AhrSteig runs from Aremberg to Insul, is 19.4 kilometres long and is rated difficult. On this stage, steep forest paths lead to Eichenbach; after reaching the village, the route continues through the Eichenbach Forest. Its length, difficulty and route help you make this hike the main focus of the day. Check the latest information on the route and its rating before setting out.

The Fürstin-Margaretha-Weg continues from the Fourteen Holy Helpers Chapel to Eichenbach and, after the village, runs through a beech avenue towards Antweiler. At around 20.7 kilometres, the Fürstin-Margaretha route, described as a short route, is slightly longer than the AhrSteig stage at 19.4 kilometres. A 3-kilometre shortcut along forest paths leads from Wershofen to Eichenbach. Check the latest route information and markings before setting out.

The chapel and regional stories

The Fourteen Holy Helpers Chapel is a local heritage site. It contains wooden figures of the fourteen Holy Helpers and a relief from a wayside shrine dating from 1626. The chapel was built between 1937 and 1941; the wooden figures were restored in 1977. The figures come from the former chapel in Maßholder, a former farm near the confluence of the Eichenbach and the Ahr.

The Bläke Fritz statue in Eichenbach is also associated with the Fürstin-Margaretha-Weg. Bläke Fritz travelled through the Eifel as a tinker, repairing gutters. His wit and jokes made him known beyond the borders of the Eifel. Thus, the history of religious buildings and objects sits alongside the biography of a craftsman who travelled through the Eifel, offering two different cultural perspectives.

Cycling, buses and choosing accommodation

The Radarena am Ring Road Cycling Tour 1 starts in Eichenbach at Ahrtalstraße 55. Parking is available at the starting point; check the current situation on site. For travel by bus, Route 817 connects Adenau Markt with Eichenbach. Route 882 connects Adenau with Eichenbach and continues via Fuchshofen and Schuld. The routes therefore differ in the connecting points mentioned and in their itineraries. Check the latest timetables before adding a connection to your day’s plans.

If you are looking for accommodation in Eichenbach, start by deciding what you want to focus on during your stay. For hiking, the difficult rating of AhrSteig Stage 3 is relevant; for a road cycling trip, the starting point at Ahrtalstraße 55 provides a specific reference. If you want to include Eichenbach’s history, you can add the chapel and the Bläke Fritz statue as separate themes to your travel plans. If you are travelling as a family or in a group with different interests, you can spread these activities across different days.

Discover more destinations: Fuchshofen, Nürburg, Winnerath, Wershofen, Insul, Kaltenborn, Quiddelbach, Aremberg.

Return to the main travel overview: Adenau.