Olsdorf: Hoorhof and St. Rochus Chapel

Olsdorf combines a specific road reference with a distinctive historic ensemble: the Hoorhof and St. Rochus Chapel together form a historic entrance to the village. Its history unfolds over several stages, from the Hoor-Hof mentioned in 1385 to the chapel built in 1928. If you would like to choose accommodation based on the character of the place, Olsdorf offers a point of reference for travellers with a particular interest in local history.

The Hoorhof and chapel as a historic entrance to the village

The Catholic Chapel of St. Rochus was built in 1928. Together with the Hoorhof, it forms a historic entrance to Olsdorf. This connection draws attention to the ensemble of farmstead and chapel, rather than to individual construction dates alone. The Hoorhof was built in 1767. For travellers who like to understand places through their architectural and local history, these dates are a good starting point: they anchor the historic entrance to the village in clearly defined stages.

A rent register of the St. Catherine’s Brotherhood in Bettingen mentions the Hoor-Hof as early as 1385. The date of the register and the year 1767 refer to different details: one records the farmstead in the register, while the other dates the construction of the Hoorhof. From the late 16th or early 17th century, the Hoor-Hof had a chapel dedicated to St. Rochus. This earlier St. Rochus Chapel should be distinguished from the Chapel of St. Rochus dating from 1928. Despite major repairs in 1878, the earlier chapel continued to deteriorate; in 1910, its masonry was completely dismantled. This makes it possible to consider the earlier St. Rochus Chapel and the later chapel as separate chapters in the history of the village.

Road orientation and choosing accommodation

The B 50 runs directly alongside Olsdorf and is designated as the Bitburg–Vianden (Luxembourg) connection. This provides a specific road reference to take into account when planning your trip.

More places to explore in the Eifelkreis Bitburg-Prüm

In the wider travel destination of Eifelkreis Bitburg-Prüm, the Mühlenberger Stollen visitor mine in Bleialf offers insight into the area’s mining history: the mine includes a mining trail with numerous information panels. One-hour guided tours of the Mühlenberger Stollen cover ore mining in Bleialf, from geology to applied technology. If you plan to take a tour, check the latest seasonal information in advance.

The Devonium in Waxweiler presents complex connections in palaeontology and the science of fossil life in a playful way. Its focus differs from that of the mining trail and the guided tour through the mine: here, the subjects are fossil life and scientific connections, while the latter focus on mining history and applied technology. This comparison can help you choose which subjects you would most like to shape your trip.

The Westwall Museum is housed on three accessible floors of a bunker and features a military history exhibition in underground corridors and rooms. The approximately 700-year-old Rittersdorf moated castle offers a different historical perspective. It has remained almost unchanged since it was built and provides an impressive picture of late medieval and Renaissance domestic culture from the early modern period. The castle also has a privately run restaurant serving fine country cuisine; check whether it is open before planning a visit.

This can help you decide whether local history or a broader range of themes should take priority when planning your trip.

Discover more destinations: Bettingen, Halsdorf, Oberweis, Biersdorf Am See, Fließem, Stahl, Niederweiler, Ehlenz.

Go to the wider travel overview: Bitburg.