St. Anthony’s Chapel, the red-painted pilgrim cross and a geological and mining-history trail give Schnorrenberg clear points of interest for a stay. There are also woodland activities available on request and a wider range of hiking options across the municipality of Hellenthal. When choosing a destination, it is worth distinguishing local history from options across the municipality: one themed route passes Schnorrenberg, while other hiking and landscape information relates to Hellenthal as a whole.
Chapel and Pilgrim Cross
An initiative begun in 1890 to build a small wayside shrine led to the construction of St. Anthony’s Chapel in Schnorrenberg, dedicated to St. Anthony of Padua. Pastor Giesen from Rescheid blessed it on 26 August 1896. The start of the initiative and the later blessing can thus be understood as two milestones in its history. For travellers interested in local religious history, these dates provide a specific historical reference.
The pilgrim cross offers a more recent point of interest: it was erected in 1982 and is made of red-painted wood. In August 2023, it was taken down for restoration; in November of the same year, it was put back in its original location. The chapel and the cross thus represent different periods in the area’s history. The cross’s restoration, completed in 2023, is part of its history alongside the year it was erected.
Mining History and Hiking Trails
The spoil heaps of the Wohlfahrt mine lie north of Schnorrenberg on the slope of the Eschsiefen and are designated as a natural monument. They complement the religious history of the area with a connection to its mining past. When choosing a destination based on your interests, you can distinguish between the chapel and cross on the one hand and the named landscape features of the Wohlfahrt mine on the other.
The 25.5-kilometre Geological and Mining History Educational and Hiking Trail, Hiking Route II, passes Schnorrenberg. If you include this themed route in your plans, take its full length into account. This makes it possible to assess the hiking option by its geological and mining-history focus and its stated route, without mistaking it for a trail that runs exclusively through the village.
Across the municipality of Hellenthal, visitors can hike more than 220 kilometres of marked trails through forests, valleys and uplands. These include three signposted geo-routes totalling 75 kilometres, connecting points of geological and mining-history interest. This information relates to Hellenthal as a whole; by contrast, the 25.5-kilometre Hiking Route II is specifically linked to Schnorrenberg because it passes the village. Comparing these two scales can help you decide whether to focus on a particular themed route or the wider range of options across the municipality.
The natural landscape of the municipality of Hellenthal also includes species-rich matgrass swards, mountain hay meadows, and dry and wet heathlands with diverse, insect-rich vegetation. These habitats broaden the view beyond local history. When planning, it is important to understand them as part of the municipality of Hellenthal and not to confuse them with features specifically associated with Schnorrenberg.
Woodland Activities, Getting There and Finding Accommodation
Individual WaldSpĂĽrungen (guided forest experiences) and open sessions on forest bathing and edible wild plants are offered at Bei Schnorrenberg 75 in Hellenthal-Schnorrenberg; sessions can be arranged on request. If you would like to include one of these activities in your stay, plan to make an enquiry as a separate step. This helps you account for an activity that can be arranged on request, rather than assuming it is a scheduled part of a hiking programme.
Bus route 838 runs from Hellenthal via Reifferscheid and the Wohlfahrt mine to Schnorrenberg. Check the current timetable before travelling, as service details may change.
If you are looking for a holiday apartment in Schnorrenberg, you can choose based on the different points of interest: the chapel’s history and the pilgrim cross, the themed route that passes the village, or the wider hiking and landscape options in Hellenthal. Woodland activities are another option if you would like to enquire about a session.
Discover more destinations: Wollenberg, Hönningen, Oberschömbach, Rescheid, Reifferscheid, Ramscheid, Udenbreth, Hollerath
For the main travel overview: Hellenthal.
