Spay: Half-timbered Houses, Chapels and Views of the Valley

Spay combines distinctive architectural history with routes for hikers and cyclists. Its varied townscape features clusters of half-timbered houses, medieval frescoes and churches from different periods. A certified circular hiking trail with views of the Middle Rhine Valley and the left-bank cycle route also pass through the town. This gives you a clear choice when planning your trip: architectural history, hiking and cycling—or a combination of these interests.

Half-timbered Houses and Architectural History

Spay is one of the towns with a particularly large number of half-timbered houses in the Middle Rhine Valley. Many of these homes stand in clusters, and most date from the 17th and 18th centuries. St Peter’s Chapel, a Gothic place of worship dating from the High Middle Ages, stands at the entrance to the town. Its frescoes date from the early 14th century; the chapel was first mentioned in a document in 1237. Later building periods also form part of the townscape: the Old Church dates from 1670 and is associated with classical concerts held there regularly. The Parish Church of St Lambert, meanwhile, is a historicist church built in 1897.

Hiking and Cycling

For a walk, try the certified “Spayer Blick ins Tal” Dream Trail: this 6.1-kilometre circular route offers views of the Middle Rhine Valley. In the forest, the Mother of God Chapel stands along the Pilgrims’ Path, which forms part of this Dream Trail. The route therefore combines a hike of a clearly defined length with a site of religious history. In Spay, the left-bank cycle route runs through the town either along the riverside promenades or on a dedicated cycle path beside the road. Check local conditions before setting out by bike. Minor bicycle repairs can be carried out at the bicycle station on the Rhine in Spay. Check the current details locally, as information about the station may change.

More Highlights in the Wider Mayen-Koblenz Destination

The wider Mayen-Koblenz destination also offers its own historical and technological highlights. Sayn Ironworks is an anchor point on the European Route of Industrial Heritage and the only monument in Rhineland-Palatinate to receive this distinction. Following restoration, modern exhibitions and multimedia presentations invite visitors to explore; guided tours and creative workshops are also available. Sayn Abbey was founded around 1200, and its abbey church was consecrated in 1202. Its exterior paintings, dating from around 1255, are considered the best-preserved examples from the High Middle Ages in Germany. The Lava-Dome is Germany’s volcano museum in Mendig. In five exhibition areas, the Geyser Museum explains how the world’s tallest cold-water geyser works. In Mayen, Genoveva Castle is one of the town’s landmarks; it was built in 1280 by Heinrich of Finstingen, Archbishop of Trier.

Choose Spay as Your Accommodation Destination

If you also include destinations in the wider Mayen-Koblenz area, industrial heritage, sacred art and volcanism broaden your range of interests.

Discover More Destinations

Discover more destinations: Plaidt, Bassenheim, Siebenbach, Bendorf, Kettig, Pillig, Urmitz, Mülheim-Kärlich.

Back to the main travel overview: Mayen-Koblenz.