Seiwerath: Eifel Landscapes and Historic Traces

Seiwerath lies in the Prüm Limestone Basin of the eastern Eifel; the southern part of the municipality is situated on the Lascheid Plateau in the western Eifel. The names of these two landscapes provide a clear sense of the region. In the village and its surroundings, sacred buildings, historical traces and long-standing customs offer distinct reasons to explore.

When choosing your accommodation, the focus of your trip may be decisive: Would you like to learn mainly about the history of the buildings and the village, or also include destinations in the wider travel region of Eifelkreis Bitburg-Prüm? The following topics can help you define your preferred itinerary more precisely.

Buildings and special details

The Catholic branch church of St. Wendelin and St. Lambert is a small hall church with a medieval core and a pointed roof turret. A late Baroque wayside cross near Hauptstraße 30 is a shaft cross of the so-called Seffern type and is dated 1790. The architectural form, roof turret and type of cross each give these historic structures their own architectural character.

The chapel in Seiwerath-Dürrbach is a three-bay hall church with a pointed roof turret, built in 1892–93. The Brother Klaus Chapel was built through a donation by Pastor Wallesch, who came from Dürrbach. Its original fittings include two door leaves, the tiled floor, the altar and the Stations of the Cross panels. The chapel invites visitors to look not only at its architectural form but also at several of its preserved interior details.

Traditions and historical traces

According to local tradition, girls from Seiwerath once drew Easter water at the Hertha Spring, following an old custom. The Schönecken egg race also leads to Seiwerath: During this recurring event, the runner runs to neighbouring Seiwerath and back. As event arrangements can change, check the current dates if you are planning a visit.

The historical traces date back to Roman times. Roman cremation graves were discovered south of Dürrbach and southeast of Seiwerath in 1925. A Roman settlement site on Kirchberg, east-southeast of Seiwerath, was excavated in 1838, 1840 and 1842. Each find has its own history of discovery, marked by different locations and dates.

Burgberg (2) lies above the Dürrbach valley, east of Seiwerath. It is a small promontory fortification on a narrow mountain spur. A double rampart encloses an area of around 750 m². Its position above the valley and the surviving rampart make this a distinct historical trace alongside the Roman finds.

Hiking route and further travel ideas

The “Wide Views and Deep Valleys” route is 12 km long. If you would like to include it in your plans, check the current route description and conditions in advance.

More topics in Eifelkreis Bitburg-Prüm

The wider travel region of Eifelkreis Bitburg-Prüm also offers a variety of topics to explore as you plan the rest of your trip. The Mühlenberger Stollen Bleialf visitor mine has a mining trail with numerous information panels about the area's mining history. One-hour guided tours through the mine explain ore extraction in Bleialf, from geology to applied technology. Check the seasonal operating information for the tours in advance.

The Devonium in Waxweiler presents complex concepts in palaeontology and the science of fossil life in a fun, accessible way. The Westwall Museum is housed across three accessible levels of a bunker; its underground passages and rooms feature a military history exhibition. Thus, alongside geology and natural sciences, the Eifelkreis also offers military history topics.

The water castle of Rittersdorf, around 700 years old, has remained almost unchanged since it was built and offers an impressive picture of late medieval and Renaissance domestic culture of the early modern period. The castle houses a privately run restaurant serving fine country cuisine; check whether it is open before visiting.

Discover more destinations

Discover more destinations: Schwirzheim, Geichlingen, Schlausenbach, Prüm, Rommersheim, Speicher, Giesdorf, Rittersdorf.

For the wider travel overview: Eifelkreis Bitburg-Prüm.