Discover Sankt Thomas: Trails in the Kyll Valley and Monastery History

Sankt Thomas combines paths through the landscape with the history of a former monastery. The nature trail and the monastery loop offer different ways to explore the Kyll Valley; the church and its past also give the village a distinctive historical connection. You can plan your trip around the interests that appeal to you most: exploring the outdoors, cycling or learning more about medieval history.

Getting here and finding your way

Sankt Thomas station is on the Eifel railway line between Trier and Cologne, with hourly train services in both directions. Check the timetable before you travel. The start of the western loop is about 70 metres from the station and can be reached by public transport. Sankt Thomas is also accessible via the VRT bus network in the western Eifel. By road, State Road 24 runs through the Kyll Valley; you can reach the A60 via the Badem interchange.

The Kyll Valley Cycle Route also passes directly through Sankt Thomas. Its route is mostly flat, with one exception elsewhere along the route.

Walking trails and nature in the Kyll Valley

The signposted St. Thomas nature trail is 2.5 kilometres long and leads through the Heilenbach Valley in the protected landscape area between the Ueß and the Kyll. Its stated length provides a practical reference point for planning a trip with children. The St. Thomas Monastery Loop follows the Kyll Valley and circles Sankt Thomas. On the loop, wooded sections alternate with expansive views across the valley.

Other walking and cycling routes also offer viewpoints overlooking Sankt Thomas. Circular routes start both in Sankt Thomas and in nearby Kyllburg. At a viewpoint overlooking Sankt Thomas in the Kyll Valley, there is a place to sit and rest. This gives you a choice of walking and cycling routes with viewpoints, as well as circular routes starting in Sankt Thomas and Kyllburg.

Monastery history and a remarkable prayer book

The former Cistercian convent in Sankt Thomas was founded around 1185. A fire destroyed the former abbey in 1742; only the church remained standing. A relic of Thomas Becket is set into its altar behind a cross medallion. It is a specific detail in the church’s recorded history.

Another historical document is the medieval “Prayer Book from St. Thomas,” which dates from around 1300. It contains the oldest known version of the Rosary of the Life of Jesus. The manuscript is kept in Trier. Together, the monastery’s founding, the church relic and the prayer book reveal different facets of Sankt Thomas’s history.

More to explore in the wider destination of Eifelkreis Bitburg-Prüm

The wider destination of Eifelkreis Bitburg-Prüm offers additional topics to suit different interests. The Mühlenberger Stollen Bleialf visitor mine includes a mining trail with numerous information boards about the area’s mining history. One-hour guided tours explain ore mining in Bleialf, from geology to applied technology. Check the seasonal opening information before planning a tour.

The Devonium in Waxweiler presents complex concepts in palaeontology and the science of fossil life in an engaging way. The Westwall Museum is housed on three accessible floors of a bunker; its underground corridors and rooms feature a military history exhibition.

The approximately 700-year-old Rittersdorf moated castle has remained almost unchanged since it was built. It provides an impressive picture of late medieval and early modern Renaissance domestic culture. The castle also has a privately run restaurant serving refined regional cuisine; check whether it is open before planning a visit.

Discover more destinations

Discover more destinations: Kesfeld, Wilsecker, Winterspelt, Neuerburg, Hütterscheid, Hamm, Utscheid, Echtershausen.

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