The parish church on the rock above Kesseling and the AhrSchleife “Steinerberg” trail offer two different perspectives on the village: historic buildings and a hiking route rated difficult. If you’re looking for a hotel in Kesseling, you can choose the focus of your stay based on whether local history or hiking is your priority.
Church and Early Local History
The parish church stands on a rock above the village and is considered a sight to see, with its Baroque high altar. Its documented origins date back to 772; the tower is from the 13th century, and the nave was built in 1791. These dates refer to different things: the date 772 refers to the church’s origins, not to the construction date of the nave.
Other links to Prüm Abbey form part of the area’s early history: in 762, King Pippin donated the monastic cell of Casleoca and a forest to the abbey. A monastery in Kesseling helped initiate the Christianization of the Ahr-Eifel region. Below the church is the two-storey rectory, formerly the provost’s residence of Prüm Abbey, which is privately owned.
Hiking the AhrSchleife “Steinerberg”
The AhrSchleife “Steinerberg” trail starts at Ahrbrück railway station and reaches the Hubertus Chapel in Kesseling. In Kesseling, it passes the parish church, the Old Monastery, and the historic rectory. On the descent to Kesseling, the route passes through juniper heathland and follows the Kesselinger Bach; along the stream, it passes a small waterfall. The route is rated difficult. Before setting out, check the current difficulty rating and access information, as the route rating may change.
At 531 meters, the Steinerberg is a hiking destination with panoramic views; from there, trails continue toward the wine villages of the Middle Ahr. At 530 meters, the Steinerberghaus is considered a popular place to stop for active holidaymakers. If you plan to stop there, check that it is open before your trip.
Further Views of the Ahr Valley and Ahrweiler
In the wider Ahr Valley, the Ahr Valley Railway, replacement services, and bus routes connect hiking areas around the Middle Ahr. Check current connections before your trip, as transport services may change. Regional places to stop include staffed mountain huts, seasonal wine taverns, and wine lounges, often run by wineries. As these offerings are seasonal, it is a good idea to check availability in advance.
In the broader travel destination of Ahrweiler, the Haus der Schützen in Ahrweiler displays art-historical treasures from the past three centuries, including uniforms, visual documentation, and historic rifles used by marksmen’s associations. At the Roman Villa on the Silberberg in Ahrweiler, visitors can view a model of the Roman estate and an audiovisual presentation. The Ahrweiler District Archive provides information and advice on historical and local-history questions relating to the region. At district level, the Rheinburgenweg, Eifelleiter, and AhrSteig are among the certified hiking trails in Ahrweiler District; the Red Wine Trail and numerous marked local trails complete the district’s hiking network.
Discover more destinations: Lind, Dernau, Rech, Hönningen, Ahrbrück, Berg, Heckenbach, Mayschoß
Back to the main travel overview: Altenahr.
