Lonnig’s townscape is still shaped by the church of the former collegiate foundation. Behind it lie two distinct historical periods: a Roman settlement with an agricultural villa and a surviving chancel dating from the early 13th century.
Roman and Medieval History in Lonnig
The former collegiate church of Lonnig has a surviving chancel that was built in the first two decades of the 13th century. This preserved part of the building provides a specific timeframe for the town’s medieval architectural history.
Lonnig’s Roman settlement dates back to a Roman villa, meaning an agricultural estate. Building remains have been discovered repeatedly. The town’s history therefore brings together two distinct themes: Roman settlement and agriculture on the one hand, and the surviving medieval church building on the other.
Lonnig is also known as a “Horse-Friendly Municipality.” This municipal designation adds another facet to the town’s historical profile.
More Cultural Highlights in the Broader Mayen-Koblenz Destination
Beyond Lonnig’s local history, the broader Mayen-Koblenz destination offers further historical and cultural attractions. These include medieval buildings, industrial heritage, museums and landscaped parklands. This regional perspective can be distinguished from Lonnig’s specific historical periods.
Castles, Abbey and Churches
In Mayen, Genovevaburg Castle is one of the town’s landmarks. It was built in 1280 by Heinrich von Finstingen, Archbishop of Trier. The history of Sayn Abbey also dates back to the Middle Ages: it was founded around 1200, and its abbey church was consecrated in 1202. The abbey’s exterior paintings, dating from around 1255, are considered the best-preserved examples from the High Middle Ages in Germany.
A different kind of connection can be seen at the churches of St. Medard in Bendorf: the Protestant and Catholic churches are united under one roof and linked by the so-called Ecumenical Portal. Unlike the castle and abbey, the focus here is on the connection between two churches.
Industrial History and Museums
Sayner Hütte is an anchor point on the European Route of Industrial Heritage and the only monument in Rhineland-Palatinate to receive this distinction. Following restoration, modern exhibitions and multimedia displays invite visitors to explore; guided tours and creative workshops are also available. Hein’s Mill offers a different perspective on regional industrial history: it is the only one of the 20 former mills in Bendorf and the surrounding area that is still fully operational. The mill museum showcases and explains the individual steps of the milling process, as well as the importance of the miller’s trade in the region.
The museums also cover a range of topics. At the New Museum at Sayn Castle, Prince Alexander and Princess Gabriela offer a private glimpse into the life of their aristocratic family. In the Children’s Kingdom, visitors can try on historical costumes. In Mendig, the Lava-Dome is the German Volcano Museum. The Geyser Museum explains how the world’s highest cold-water geyser works across five exhibition areas.
Landscape and Cycling Route
Sayn Castle Park combines landscaped grounds with distinctive park features. From 1840 to 1850, Prince Ludwig Adolf Friedrich zu Sayn-Wittgenstein-Sayn commissioned architect Carl Friedrich Thelemann to create it in the style of an English landscape garden. The park features a castle pond with a fountain, winding paths, numerous benches and secluded, peaceful spots.
For another way to explore the region, the 33-kilometre Vulkanpark Cycle Route runs from Mayen through Mendig, Kretz and Plaidt to Andernach. It links many of the Vulkanpark’s attractions along a relaxed, family-friendly route. The broader destination therefore offers both cultural and historical attractions and a cycling route, while Lonnig’s own history remains rooted in the former collegiate church, its chancel and its Roman settlement heritage.
Discover more destinations: Urmitz, Kirchwald, Nitztal, Kalt, Bassenheim, Bendorf, Alken, Kerben
View the full travel guide: Mayen-Koblenz.
