Wallendorf at the confluence of the Sauer and Our

Wallendorf lies on the border with Luxembourg, at the confluence of the Sauer and Our. Above the village, the history of Castellberg stretches back to Celtic times. Other points of interest include the parish church of St. Peter and Paul and a nature reserve within the municipality of Wallendorf—two very different perspectives on architectural history and natural habitats.

Celtic history on Castellberg

As early as the 4th century BC, a Celtic settlement was established on an area of more than 40 hectares on Castellberg, above Wallendorf. Around 130 BC, the Celtic Treveri built a large, town-like settlement there, an oppidum. A massive, encircling defensive wall protected the settlement. Before Gaius Julius Caesar’s Gallic War (58–50 BC), the oppidum was one of the most important Treveri settlements. Coins of the Treveri, including silver and gold coins, were also minted on Castellberg.

After the Roman conquest of Gaul, a temple precinct was built on the highest point of Castellberg around the beginning of the Common Era. A small settlement of merchants and craftsmen adjoined the sanctuary; it may also have included pilgrims’ quarters. During the Germanic invasions of the 3rd century, the settlement was partly abandoned, and by the end of the 4th century it had been abandoned completely. The sequence of events thus spans Celtic settlement and fortification, a sanctuary, and the settlement’s eventual end.

A church with a clear architectural form

The parish church of St. Peter and Paul in Wallendorf was built in 1748. It is dedicated to the apostles Peter and Paul and, secondarily, to Saint Barbara. The building is a single-nave structure made of rubble stone, with a three-sided chancel and a west tower. “Single-nave” describes a church with just one nave; “rubble-stone structure” refers to a building method using roughly dressed stones. Along with the year of construction, the floor plan and building method provide concrete clues to the area’s architectural history.

River views and protected habitats

The wooden Römerturm observation tower stands on the nearby Kasselt plateau and is a destination for hikers. From there, panoramic views extend across Wallendorf and the surrounding valleys of the Sauer and Our, reaching as far as neighboring Luxembourg. This adds a landscape perspective to the history of Castellberg, directing the view across the valleys and beyond the border.

The 47.5-hectare “Langenberg and Bocksberg near Wallendorf” nature reserve lies within the municipality of Wallendorf. It aims to preserve and develop south-facing semi-dry grasslands on extremely steep slopes, dry hay meadows, orchard meadows, dry-stone walls, shrub formations, areas of mixed deciduous forest, and spring hollows with adjoining wet meadows. Numerous threatened animal and plant species live in these habitats. The conservation and development goals therefore encompass both dry sites and wet areas.

Hiking and an annual carnival session

Route No. 44 of the Southern Eifel Nature Park runs from Gentingen via Niedersgegen to Wallendorf, then follows the Our Valley via Ammeldingen before returning to Gentingen. The route is 15.9 km long. This distance provides a concrete point of comparison when choosing a hike; check the current route before setting out, as route details may change.

Another feature of village life is the carnival session hosted every year in Wallendorf by the “Schmetterling” carnival association. If this event is important to your travel plans, check the exact date in advance.

Discover more destinations

Discover more destinations: Sinspelt, Weilerbach, Wawern, Oberstedem, Scharfbillig, Irrhausen, Arzfeld, Mettendorf.

Back to the main travel overview: Eifelkreis Bitburg-Prüm.