Discover Bengel: the Alfbach, monastery church and Kondelwald

Bengel lies on both sides of the Alfbach between the Moselle hills and the Eifel. This setting gives the village a distinct landscape. Bengel has its own railway stop on the edge of the village for train travel; check the timetable before setting off. There is also plenty to discover during a stay: nature, a specific cycling route, and a rich history of churches and monasteries.

Woods and trails around Bengel

The 2,500-hectare Kondelwald lies between Bengel and Bad Bertrich. The woodland offers opportunities for hiking and observing nature. Another active option is the cycling route from Bengel through the Alftal valley to Wittlich. It is 32.3 kilometres long, is classed as easy, and has 186 metres of ascent and 221 metres of descent. The route can be used year-round. This gives you a specified cycling distance alongside the hiking and nature-watching opportunities in Kondelwald, with options to suit different interests during your stay.

The monastery church and its architectural history

Springiersbach, a locality within Bengel, is an important point of reference for architectural history, with its monastery church. The church is Baroque; ceiling frescoes adorn it, while its altars and choir stalls are in the Rococo style. The monastery’s history began around 1100, when Benigna von Daun founded it. After secularisation in 1802, the Bishop of Trier designated the Springiersbach church as Bengel’s parish church.

The parish church of St Quirinus in Bengel offers a different architectural note: it is a Neo-Gothic hall church built in 1901–1902. Together, the two churches provide different historical and stylistic points of reference for anyone interested in the area’s religious buildings.

Wayside crosses and local remembrance

Five wayside crosses on the roads into Bengel date from the 18th century. They were probably intended to protect against evil, disasters and epidemics. The cross locally known as the Plague Cross stands at the junction towards Springiersbach; its form suggests that it was made around 1660. At the edge of Kondelwald, the Jacobs Cross commemorates Philipp Jacobs, who died as a soldier in Zanzibar in 1890. The crosses bring different facets of local history to life: religious symbols, a presumed protective purpose, and the memory of one person.

The Springiersbach oil mill is another historic landmark in the area. Built in 1856, it is one of the few surviving oil mills in Rhineland-Palatinate. For anyone interested in cultural history, these smaller memorials and this example of industrial heritage complement the story of the churches and monastery.

Monastery shop, programme and finding accommodation

The monastery shop stocks regional Alftal honey and monastery products, including wine, beer, liqueurs, spices, vinegar, oil, syrup and preserves. The selection may vary seasonally. Carmel Springiersbach offers a varied programme and can be booked for events. If you are planning your stay around a particular programme, check its availability directly.

When looking for accommodation in Bengel, you could start by thinking about which aspect of the area interests you most: cycling through the Alftal valley, hiking and observing nature in Kondelwald, or the churches, crosses and monastic history. The railway stop on the edge of the village provides an additional point of reference for your journey; the timetable is the key to planning your train trip.

Discover more destinations: Willwerscheid, Kinderbeuern, Kinheim, Hontheim, Kövenig.

Return to the main travel overview: Kröv-Bausendorf.