Wederath: Belginum, Church and Hunsrück Trails

Archaeological history, church art and an old mill give Wederath a distinctive character. The Belginum complex associated with the village comprises a Celtic-Roman burial ground, a Roman-era settlement with several temple precincts, and an early Roman military camp. The range of things to discover extends from a walk around the Archaeology Park’s outdoor grounds to a longer hiking route.

Belginum: Burial Ground, Settlement and Museum

In Wederath, the Belginum Archaeology Park is associated with a museum. It presents archaeological research findings and finds from Wederath’s Iron Age burial ground and from the provincial Roman population of ancient Belginum. In addition to the burial ground, the complex includes the Roman-era settlement with its temple precincts and an early Roman military camp. These different elements give the site an archaeological focus that visitors can explore both through the museum exhibits and in the outdoor grounds.

In the outdoor grounds, a hiking trail just under 1,000 metres long, with informative panels, leads through the different parts of the settlement and burial ground. This lets you explore the archaeological themes not only in the museum but also along a signposted route through the grounds. The panels accompany the circuit through the various areas; its stated length also makes it easy to distinguish from the longer Belginum hiking route.

Church History and Milling Culture

The Church of the Finding of the Cross also tells the story of Wederath. After the chapel was restored following a fire in 1669, the present, larger Baroque church was built between 1756 and 1758. Its furnishings include a pulpit, a Pietà from 1766, a cast relief depicting the Fourteen Holy Helpers, and various statues of saints. The Baroque altar with its tall tabernacle is also noteworthy: it did not arrive in Wederath until the 20th century.

Opposite the church stands an old, working grain mill. It is often demonstrated during mill walks in the Hunsrück. Alongside Belginum’s ancient history, the church and mill add two further, distinct themes to the village: the furnishings of a Baroque building and the tradition of milling grain. When planning your trip, you can combine this local history with the archaeological focus without having to fit the different sights into a single visit.

Hiking Trails of Different Lengths

Opened in 2005, the Belginum hiking trail connects Bernkastel-Kues and Traben-Trarbach with the Belginum Archaeology Park in the hills of the Hunsrück. Above the Kautenbach district, the route passes through the Trabenerbach valley, a wild, secluded side valley of the Moselle, to the Archaeology Park near Wederath. The total distance from Bernkastel-Kues to Belginum is around 14 kilometres; from the banks of the Moselle in Traben-Trarbach to Belginum, it is around 16 kilometres.

Your starting point makes a concrete difference when choosing a hike: the stated total distance from Bernkastel-Kues is around two kilometres shorter than the route from the banks of the Moselle in Traben-Trarbach. At just under 1,000 metres, the trail in the park’s outdoor grounds is on a different scale and leads through the settlement and burial ground. This lets you choose between a short archaeological trail in the park grounds and a longer connection from either of the two Moselle towns. Before setting out, check the current route, as trail conditions can change independently of the distances given here.

If you are looking for accommodation for a trip to Wederath, these distinctions can help you plan your activities: Belginum’s museum and outdoor grounds, the church and mill, or the longer hike each offer a different focus. You can tailor your trip depending on whether you are most interested in exploring archaeological themes, learning about local history, or planning a hiking route from the Moselle towns to the Archaeology Park.

Discover More Destinations

Discover more destinations: Hinzerath, Gonzerath, Hoxel.

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