The Islek Westwall Hiking Trail begins in Großkampenberg and ends in Leidenborn. The route gives the town a clear starting point for a stay focused on hiking. Westwall traces, the building history of St. Hubertus and a dated slate niche cross add to the appeal. When choosing Großkampenberg for a trip, you can therefore decide whether to focus on the hike or on the historic buildings and relics.
The Islek Westwall Hiking Trail
The Islek Westwall Hiking Trail is rated easy. As the classification may change, check the latest trail information before setting out. The trail starts in Großkampenberg and ends in Leidenborn. This is distinct from the western section of the route, which runs for 5 km towards Lützkampen. The route is fully marked with its logo and directional arrows; check the signs on site when you set out. This helps you distinguish the start, destination and western section when planning your own trip.
There is a shelter and seating near the starting point. You can park at the sports ground in Großkampenberg or by the trailhead information board. Check local parking conditions and facilities before your hike, as both may change. By car, you can reach Großkampenberg via the Bleialf exit on the A60, then continue through Habscheid and Heckhuscheid. There is no direct rail connection; the nearest station is in Gerolstein. Check current road and transport connections before setting off.
Westwall traces in the landscape
A total of 115 bunkers and around 6 kilometres of dragon’s teeth were built in the area around Großkampenberg, Leidenborn and Kesfeld. The highly visible line of dragon’s teeth still shapes the landscape today. Near Großkampenberg, two technically distinct concrete anti-tank obstacle lines have been preserved. Information boards along the Westwall Hiking Trail explain the concrete barriers and other topics relating to the Westwall.
Two different scales help put this in context: the figures for bunkers and dragon’s teeth refer to the area around the three towns named; the two preserved lines are specific relics near Großkampenberg. The structures built and the lines preserved today are not the same inventory. This allows you to distinguish the scale of the military-historical context from the specific surviving obstacles.
St. Hubertus and the slate niche cross
The building and furnishing features listed for St. Hubertus date from 1910 to 1962. The neo-Gothic choir and the lower sections of the tower date from 1910. After war damage, the church was rebuilt from 1948 onwards. Inside is a Sebald organ from 1962 with 21 stops. Another dated local landmark is the slate niche cross in Großkampenberg, which dates to 1848.
The dates highlight different periods: the cross is the earliest of the dates mentioned here, followed by the choir and lower tower sections in 1910, the rebuilding from 1948 onwards, and the organ from 1962. The historical perspective therefore extends from a single local landmark through the building’s history to the church’s furnishings. These details can be considered separately from the Westwall relics when choosing which topics to explore on site.
Another theme in the Eifelkreis Bitburg-Prüm
In the wider travel destination of Eifelkreis Bitburg-Prüm, the Mühlenberger Stollen Bleialf visitor mine offers a different focus: one-hour guided tours explore ore mining, from geology to applied technology. The visitor mine also has a mining trail with numerous information boards about the area’s mining history. Check seasonal opening information before your visit. This adds a distinct theme of mining history in Eifelkreis Bitburg-Prüm to Großkampenberg’s Westwall and local history.
Discover more destinations: Kinzenburg, Lichtenborn, Eschfeld, Preischeid, Neurath, Mauel, Hargarten, Eilscheid
Back to the overview of the wider destination: Arzfeld.
