Nachtsheim – Circular Walk, Roman History and Legend
Accommodation in Nachtsheim
Nachtsheim offers a range of reasons to visit: the Strühmannspettje leads through the Mimbach Valley landscape, while the rock grotto, Roman burial ground and parish church touch on religious and historical themes. There is also a local legend about the Heinzelmännchen. When looking for accommodation, you can weigh up the time you plan to spend outdoors and your interest in culture as two separate priorities.
The StrĂĽhmannspettje: a longer circuit with scenic views
The Nachtsheim StrĂĽhmannspettje is a circular hiking trail around the municipality. It links historical and natural attractions with scenic viewpoints. The circuit is about 12 kilometres long; more precisely, its length is given as 11.7 kilometres. It is described as a moderately difficult trail taking around three and a half hours. This makes it easier to gauge the time needed than for a short walk.
The route passes through the Mimbach Valley to the Heinzelmännchen Cave. Benches at the hillside above the cave offer views across the Mimbach Valley. The valley path and the views are among the tour’s specific landscape highlights; it also leads to historical and natural attractions around Nachtsheim. The different stops give the circuit more to offer than just a distance: it combines exercise with impressions of the surrounding area.
The community hall is recommended as the starting point. There are plenty of parking spaces there, provided the hall is not being used for another purpose. Signage is incomplete in some sections, so download the GPX track and trail map in advance. The trail is only suitable to a limited extent for people with health conditions or mobility impairments. Its distance, estimated time and difficulty level can help you plan this hike as a separate activity.
Rock grotto, Roman road context and PietĂ
A small rock grotto was built in Nachtsheim’s “Kesselchen” in 1937. Josef, Peter and Aloys Gerharz, together with Peter Thome, had a small altar stone with a statue of the Virgin Mary set into the rock. During renovation, a staircase and a place to sit were added. The grotto’s history thus combines a precisely dated structure with its distinctive feature: the altar stone and statue are embedded in the rock.
The Roman burial ground near Nachtsheim offers a different chapter of local history. It was laid out as a burial garden with barrows south of the Koblenz–Liège Roman road. A Roman roadside settlement stood along this road. These two connections—the graves south of the road and the settlement beside it—give the site a specific Roman context.
A Pietà stands in St. Stephen’s Parish Church: it depicts Jesus after being taken down from the cross, in the arms of Mary, the Mother of Sorrows. The sculptural group was restored and reinstalled in 2002. Before that, it had been kept in the church cellar for more than 30 years because it was badly damaged. The artwork’s subject and restoration history offer a distinct way to explore the religious themes of Nachtsheim.
Legend and pilgrimage tradition
The Heinzelmännchen are also part of the local storytelling tradition. According to legend, they fled Cologne and found a new home, among other places, in Nachtsheim in the Eifel. As a legend, this story sits alongside the historical traces of the town, without being confused with them.
Another religious tradition connects the parish of St. Stephen in Nachtsheim with an annual pilgrimage to Maria Martental in May. The first pilgrimage on foot took place in May 1945, after around 200 parishioners had signed a vow. The tradition is passed on to younger generations. Maria Martental is the destination of the pilgrimage; the tradition described here began in Nachtsheim’s parish community.
Choose accommodation based on your planned stay
When looking for accommodation in Nachtsheim, you can first consider which of these aspects you would like to shape your stay. If you plan to hike the Strühmannspettje, its several-hour duration and the guidance on finding your way are practical considerations for your day’s itinerary. Those more interested in culture and history can explore the rock grotto, the Pietà , the Roman burial ground and the Heinzelmännchen legend as distinct topics. This way, your choice reflects the travel experience you have in mind, rather than a general idea of what a stay here has to include.
Discover more destinations
Discover more destinations: Siebenbach, Brodenbach, Baar, Kalt, Kobern-Gondorf, Volkesfeld, Boos, Alken.
Return to the main travel overview: Mayen-Koblenz.
