Those who enjoy spending time outdoors in Bickenbach while also discovering historic architectural styles will find several different points of interest. Hiking trails bring landscape and activity into your plans; the church, dance hall, cross and milling history point to different periods. When choosing where to stay, you can first decide whether you mainly want to hike, explore architectural history or include both topics in your stay.
Buildings from Different Centuries
The Catholic parish church of St. Stephen is a late Baroque hall church built in 1771–1772. Its Neo-Romanesque west tower was added in 1855; at the choir are a crucifix from the 18th century and a Marian grotto from the 19th century. The church therefore reveals a Baroque original design alongside later additions, while the two religious artworks also date from different centuries.
The Wendelkreuz, a cross made of basalt lava and dated 1702, stands northwest of Bickenbach. Another building is the Bickenbach dance hall: a single-storey plastered building with Expressionist motifs, built around 1925. Together, these examples of architecture span the period from the dated cross to the dance hall of the early 20th century.
The History of the Sonntagsmühle
The Sonntagsmühle, also known as Strödersmühle, adds a sequence of names and dates to the architectural history. The mill is recorded in the accounts of the Electoral Trier district office of Boppard in 1575. Nikolaus Sonntag took it over in 1768; it then became known as the Sonntagsmühle. When Jakob Ströder moved into the mill in 1826, the name Strödersmühle was added.
The Sonntagsmühle, also known as Strödersmühle, is a large estate in the Bickenbach area with renovated half-timbered buildings. The estate includes well-kept meadows and a fishpond. The mill’s history of names and the described features of the estate offer different points of interest if you are interested in the history and architectural character of the surrounding area.
Hiking: A Circular Trail or a Scenic Route
A route description published in 2022 presents the Gehaichnisweg as a 10.8-kilometre circular trail around Bickenbach, passing the Baybach, Sasselbach and Schnellbach streams. The trail is considered relatively easy; the description gives an elevation gain and loss of about 180 metres. These details on length and elevation profile can help you plan your day. Local trail conditions may change, so check them before setting out. You can start the Gehaichnisweg at the hiking car park by Bickenbach cemetery; as local parking options may change, check these as well before you leave.
The Upper Baybach Valley route offers a different experience, with woodland alternating with open fields. Small information boards cover the landscape and its history; there are also far-reaching views and places to rest. This route is accessible by public transport. Check the current connections before your trip, as services may change. By comparison, the Gehaichnisweg can be assessed by its length and elevation gain, while the Upper Baybach Valley route focuses on changing landscapes, information boards and views.
Rhein-Hunsrück on a Larger Scale
As a wider travel destination, the Rhein-Hunsrück district encompasses large areas of the Hunsrück, part of the Rhenish Massif, as well as the left-bank section of the Upper Middle Rhine Valley. This regional setting thus extends from Hunsrück landscapes to the Upper Middle Rhine Valley and complements Bickenbach’s specific hiking and history themes.
Discover more destinations: Mörschbach, Sohrschied, Hahn, Buch, Ober Kostenz, Niederweiler, Sohren, Damscheid
Back to the main travel overview: Rhein-Hunsrück.
