Wallendorf lies on the border with Luxembourg, where the Sauer and Our rivers meet. Hiking and Celtic history offer two different perspectives on the town: Route No. 44 of the Southern Eifel Nature Park passes through Wallendorf, while its archaeological history can be explored on the Castellberg above the town.
Hiking and Protected Landscape
Route No. 44 is 15.9 km long. It runs from Gentingen via Niedersgegen to Wallendorf and along the Our Valley via Ammeldingen back to Gentingen. The route thus connects several places with the Our Valley. If you are planning the hike, check the latest route details beforehand, as the route may change.
The “Langenberg and Bocksberg near Wallendorf” nature reserve also shapes the landscape of the local area. The 47.5-hectare reserve is dedicated to preserving and developing a range of habitats. These include south-facing semi-dry grasslands on extremely steep slopes, dry grasslands, orchards, dry-stone walls, shrub formations and areas of mixed deciduous forest. Spring depressions and adjacent wet meadows are also part of the reserve. These habitats provide a home for numerous endangered animal and plant species.
The Celtic History of the Castellberg
As early as the 4th century BC, a Celtic settlement covering an area of more than 40 hectares was established on the Castellberg above Wallendorf. Around 130 BC, the Treveri built a large, town-like oppidum there. A massive encircling fortification wall protected the site. Before the Gallic War of Gaius Julius Caesar (58–50 BC), the oppidum was one of the most important settlements of the Treveri. Coins of the Treveri, including silver and gold coins, were also minted on the Castellberg.
After the Roman conquest of Gaul, a temple precinct was built on the highest point of the Castellberg around the turn of the era. A small settlement of traders and craftspeople grew alongside the sanctuary; it may also have included accommodation for pilgrims. The settlement was partly abandoned during the Germanic invasions of the 3rd century and completely abandoned at the end of the 4th century. The history of the site can thus be traced from the fortified Celtic settlement to the later sanctuary and the end of habitation.
Church and Living Traditions
The parish church of St Peter and St Paul stands in the town. Built in 1748, it was dedicated to the Apostles Peter and Paul and, secondarily, to St Barbara. Architecturally, the church is a single-nave rubble-stone building with a three-sided chancel and a west tower. These features describe both the clear layout and the church’s striking structural elements.
The carnival association “Schmetterling” offers another glimpse into local cultural life: it holds a Kappensitzung carnival event every year. Event dates and details may vary. If you would like to plan your stay around it, check the current date before travelling.
More Places to Discover in the Eifelkreis Bitburg-PrĂĽm
In the wider destination of Eifelkreis Bitburg-Prüm, other places add to the range of cultural and natural science topics. The Mühlenberger Stollen Bleialf visitor mine has a mining trail with numerous information panels on the area’s mining history. The Devonium in Waxweiler presents complex aspects of palaeontology and fossil life in a playful way. The water castle of Rittersdorf, around 700 years old, has remained almost unchanged since it was built and offers a glimpse of late medieval and early modern Renaissance domestic culture. The castle also houses a privately run restaurant serving fine country cuisine; check before your trip whether it is open.
Discover More Destinations
Discover more destinations: Seffern, HĂĽtterscheid, Sellerich, Sankt Thomas, Arzfeld, Weinsheim, Geichlingen, Oberstedem
Return to the wider travel overview: Eifelkreis Bitburg-PrĂĽm.
