Vallendar combines religious history with hiking trails and views over the Rhine Valley. When planning a stay, you can choose from different focuses: Schönstatt and its pilgrimage sites, historic buildings, or trails through stream valleys and floodplain landscapes. The ferry connection to Koblenz may also factor into your day’s plans; check its operating times before you travel.
Churches, Schönstatt and historic houses
The Catholic parish church of St. Marcellinus and Peter was consecrated in 836 by Bishop Hetti in honor of the Roman catacomb martyrs Marcellinus and Peter. Its west tower dates from 1501. In 1837/41, Lassaulx rebuilt the church as a three-aisled hall church. The building thus brings together early church history and a much later phase of construction.
Schönstatt is a district of Vallendar and the birthplace and spiritual center of the international Schönstatt Movement. The Original Shrine is the pilgrimage destination of this place of pilgrimage. Visitors interested in the area’s religious heritage will find a specific point of reference here. The Schönstatt Pilgrimage Center can organize and support pilgrimages and other events.
Marienburg Castle and Haus Meffert also offer a historical perspective on Vallendar. Marienburg Castle was once the seat of the Counts of Sayn and was rebuilt in 1779 by Quirin Josef D’Ester, a sole-leather manufacturer. Haus Meffert dates from 1647 and is considered the oldest wine house. Opposite Vallendar, on Niederwerth Island, stands an old monastery church dating from the 15th century. It is one of the best-preserved and most significant religious buildings on the Middle Rhine.
The Rhine Valley and trails through the landscape
From the protected Kaiser-Friedrich Tower, the view extends across the Rhine Valley, the Hunsrück and the Eifel Mountains. The tower provides a scenic highlight alongside Vallendar’s historic buildings.
The Rheinsteig includes one stage from Bendorf-Sayn to Vallendar and another from Vallendar to Koblenz-Ehrenbreitstein. The stages have different destinations; check the route details before setting out. A different landscape characterizes the Rhein-Traumpfad Waldschluchtenweg, which leads through idyllic stream valleys and unspoiled floodplain landscapes. When planning a hike, you can therefore choose between specific stage destinations and a trail distinguished by its streams and floodplains.
More activities and practical planning
Vallendar’s mini-golf course is on the edge of town in the direction of Weitersburg, at Weitersburger Weg or Untere Meerbach. The varied holes are in a peaceful setting, and guests can be served on the terrace after their game. This offers a local leisure activity alongside the area’s historical and religious attractions.
A regular ferry service runs from Vallendar to Koblenz and back; daily operating hours are listed as 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Check the current timetable before travelling. When planning an overnight stay in Vallendar, it helps to consider the pace you want for your day: for a Rheinsteig stage, the route and destination matter; for a planned visit to Koblenz, the right ferry time is important.
Discover more destinations: Einig, Hatzenport, Baar, Monreal, Nachtsheim, Ochtendung, Mülheim-Kärlich, Kirchwald
Back to the main travel overview: Mayen-Koblenz.
