Discover Harspelt: Church and Historic Crosses

Harspelt brings together the history of its Catholic parish church and a series of notable crosses and gravestones. The contrast between the hall church, slate work and an elaborately sculpted wooden cross brings the local cultural history to life through tangible forms and dates.

Church and Crosses Spanning Several Centuries

The Catholic parish church of the Nativity of Mary in Harspelt is a hall church dating from 1741. At the entrance to the churchyard stands a slate-beam cross, probably dating from the first half of the 19th century. Four slate gravestones of priests date from the late 18th and 19th centuries.

At Dorfstraße 18 stands a tall, richly sculpted wooden cross; possible dates are 1819 or 1929. West of Harspelt, on the road to Sevenig, stands a shaft cross decorated with reliefs, dating from the 17th century. Slate and wood, relief and three-dimensional design display different forms of expression; the works also span far more than a single period.

Mill Loop, Irsen Valley and Other Route Profiles

The 6.2 km Islek-Pfädchen – Mühlenrunde Lützkampen hiking route starts in Lützkampen, passes the former Harspelt Mill, follows the Irsen to Lützkämper Mill and returns to Lützkampen. Both former mills lie on the Irsen. The loop also includes demolished Westwall bunkers and anti-tank obstacles. Traces of the 2018 flood can be seen in parts of the Irsen Valley along the route; their visibility may change over time.

For navigation, it is important to note that the Islek-Pfädchen routes have no trail markers or signposts. Follow the route description or use GPS navigation. Also check route conditions before setting out.

Other routes pass through different places: the Welchenhausen Sculpture Trail runs from Stupbach through Welchenhausen to the tri-border area near Ouren. Nat'Our Route 1 is a cross-border circular route along the Our to the European Monument in Ouren. The monument stands where Germany, Luxembourg and Belgium meet; a bridge crosses the tri-border area. It consists of five stones and commemorates the founding of the European Community in 1957.

More Destinations in the Eifelkreis Bitburg-Prüm District

The Mühlenberger Stollen Bleialf Visitor Mine includes a mining trail with numerous information panels on the area's mining history. One-hour guided tours of the Mühlenberger Stollen introduce visitors to ore mining in Bleialf, from geology to applied technology. Check seasonal operating information before taking a tour.

The Devonium in Waxweiler presents complex topics in palaeontology and the science of fossil life in an engaging, hands-on way. The Westwall Museum is housed on three accessible levels of a bunker. Its underground passages and rooms contain a military history exhibition.

The water castle of Rittersdorf, around 700 years old, has remained almost unchanged since it was built and offers an impressive picture of late-medieval and early modern Renaissance domestic culture. The castle houses a privately run restaurant serving fine regional cuisine; check whether it is open before planning a visit.

Choose Accommodation Based on Your Planned Destinations

If you are planning to visit several places, compare your accommodation’s location with the specific destinations on your itinerary.

Discover more destinations: Großkampenberg, Dasburg, Eilscheid, Herzfeld, Lichtenborn, Olmscheid, Lambertsberg, Plütscheid.

See the overall travel guide: Arzfeld.