Lasel can be identified by three specific features: the Nims, which flows through the village; the Catholic village church of St. Helena; and a custom in which winter is symbolically burned. They answer different questions: the Nims describes the location, the church offers an architectural and historical focal point, and the custom provides a seasonal connection. Lasel therefore offers a clear starting point for choosing a place to stay, rooted in local history, the riverside setting and local customs.
St. Helena: Neo-Gothic architectural history
The Catholic village church of St. Helena in Lasel was built between 1885 and 1896 in the Neo-Gothic style, to plans by Gabriel Krekeler, an architect from Prüm. In addition to its construction dates, the church’s furnishings are important to understanding it: the parish church still retains all of its original furnishings and decorative painting. Both together are rare; St. Helena is one of the few sacred spaces from this period in which the furnishings and decorative painting have been preserved. As a result, the architecture and interior furnishings stand out as interconnected features, rather than just one individual detail.
Another historical period is associated with the year 1346: Pope Clement VI granted an indulgence for the Church of St. Helena in Lasel. The dates refer to different historical contexts: the indulgence was granted in 1346, while the Catholic village church of St. Helena was built between 1885 and 1896. Anyone interested in church history will find both an earlier connection to the church and the specific architectural history of the Neo-Gothic building.
The Nims and a winter custom
Lasel lies on both sides of the Nims, which flows through the village. This setting is a distinctive geographical reference point for understanding Lasel. The winter custom adds a seasonal note: on the Sunday of the first weekend after Carnival, winter is symbolically burned in Lasel using a straw figure. For this, a large wooden cross wrapped in straw is set up and lit at the edge of the village in the direction of Feuerscheid. Its timing and specific actions make the custom a clearly defined part of the local annual cycle.
More places to explore in the Eifelkreis Bitburg-Prüm
The wider travel destination of Eifelkreis Bitburg-Prüm offers additional points of interest on a range of themes. The Mühlenberger Stollen Bleialf visitor mine offers one-hour guided tours. Visitors learn about ore mining in Bleialf, from geology to applied technology. The visitor mine also has a mining trail with numerous information boards about the area’s mining history. The tour and trail offer different focal points: the tour centers on a guided introduction to ore mining, while the trail explores mining history through its information boards.
The Devonium in Waxweiler presents complex concepts in paleontology and the science of fossil life in a playful way. The Westwall Museum is housed across three accessible floors of a bunker; its underground corridors and rooms contain a military history exhibition. These destinations broaden the Eifelkreis’s cultural offerings with science and military history.
The water castle of Rittersdorf, around 700 years old, has remained almost unchanged since it was built. It gives an impressive picture of late medieval and modern Renaissance residential culture. The castle also has a privately run restaurant serving fine country cuisine. You should check whether the restaurant is open before your trip.
Discover more destinations: Brandscheid, Auw, Feuerscheid, Heisdorf, Buchet, Pronsfeld, Orlenbach, Nimsreuland.
Go to the wider travel overview: Prüm.
