Newel: Hiking and Roman Traces

Newel lies in the gentle uplands of the southern Eifel. Agricultural land, extensive meadows and forests define the landscape. Here, rural nature and tangible historical themes meet: Putzlöcher is part of the municipality, and the nearby Butzerbach Valley links hiking trails with Roman mining history. The small branch church of St. Clement also adds its own architectural accent.

Hiking in the Butzerbach Valley and at Pützlöcher

Newel’s landscape invites you to go hiking. In the Butzerbach Valley, the nature and adventure trail forms part of the Eifelsteig. The Eifelsteig Stage 15 and the approximately nine-kilometre premium circular trail, the Römerpfad, also run through the Pützlöcher area. This offers a nature and adventure hike alongside a circular route with Roman connections. The premium Römerpfad is considered the best way to explore the sights of the Butzerbach Valley.

There are two starting points for the Römerpfad: the car park below Ramstein Castle ruins in Kordel and Ramsteiner Weg in Butzweiler. Starting from Ramsteiner Weg puts you closer to Pützlöcher. The approximate nine-kilometre length gives you a concrete idea of the distance when deciding how much hiking to fit into your day. Before setting off, check the current route and access, as both may change.

Roman past and building history

Putzlöcher is part of the municipality’s Roman past: it was a Roman copper mine and quarry. The complex was in use from the second half of the 2nd century until the end of the 3rd century. The nearby Butzerbach Valley adds another Roman connection: stone from the quarry there was used for the Porta Nigra in Trier. This connects the extraction of stone in the municipality of Newel with its use in a specific building in Trier.

Newel’s branch church of St. Clement offers a different historical perspective. The small post-Baroque hall church was built in 1806 and has a walled churchyard. In nearby Butzweiler stands the reconstructed Roman Long Wall. Originally, it was 72 kilometres long, 80 centimetres thick and 2 metres high. The range extends from a small 19th-century building to the original dimensions of a Roman wall: church architecture and ancient building history offer two distinct ways to explore the past.

Choose the focus that suits your stay

If you are looking for accommodation in Newel, you can shape your stay around your interests: hiking in the Butzerbach Valley, Roman history at Putzlöcher, or architectural history in Newel and Butzweiler. For planning a hike, the approximate length of the Römerpfad and its two starting points are useful guides. Those more interested in historic buildings can explore different themes at the branch church, the Long Wall and the traces of Roman mining.

Discover more destinations

Discover more destinations: Detzem, Morscheid, Schleich, Mehring, Kell Am See, Taben-Rodt, Tawern, Gusterath.

For the higher-level travel overview: Trier-Saarburg.