Zermüllen brings together a historical route, a pilgrimage route that is still in use, and features of its local and cultural landscape. You can tailor your stay around hiking, religious tradition, village history or nature. The route details provide practical points of reference; the chapel, well and heath offer further perspectives on the area.
Circular Hiking Trail and Pilgrimage Route
The “Legendary Schwarzenberg” circular hiking trail is part of the historical route. It is 5 km long, has six stations and leads through Kelberg and Zermüllen, a district of Kelberg. As a circular hike, it offers a clearly defined format; its length and number of stations give you concrete points of reference when choosing a hiking focus.
The local pilgrimage route leads from Zermüllen to the pilgrimage chapel of Our Lady of Sorrows on Schwarzenberg. It is still used as a pilgrimage route today and is also the Bittweg (prayer route). The focus here is on the pilgrimage destination and the route’s religious function. By comparison, the “Legendary Schwarzenberg” can be defined by its circular format, length and stations: the two routes offer different points of focus for planning your trip.
Chapel and Village History
The present-day St. Donatus Chapel was built between 1953 and 1955 at the junction of Schützenstraße and Hauptstraße. The chapel’s earlier history includes a building dedicated to St. Donatus, built in 1718 and demolished in 1939 because it had fallen into disrepair. The dates therefore span from a chapel dating to the early 18th century to the construction of the present building. A war memorial at the Catholic Chapel of St. Donatus commemorates those who fell in the First and Second World Wars. Alongside the building’s history, it also serves as a memorial to both wars.
Further traces of history can be found in the village and cultural landscape. Zermüllen’s village well is one of the few village wells still preserved in the Eifel. Clearly visible agricultural terraces are located in field parcel 5, “Luxsuhr,” in the cadastral district of Zermüllen; they very probably date from the 13th to 15th centuries. The well and terraces represent different features of the local landscape: a preserved village structure and an older area shaped by agriculture. Part of the Kelberg mill also survives as a residential building; this remnant adds another piece of local history alongside the well and agricultural terraces.
Heidekopf Juniper Heath
The “Heidekopf” juniper heath is located on Müllenberg near Kelberg-Zermüllen. It has been designated a natural monument since 1940 and is under special protection. It is a valuable refuge for specialized plant and animal species. Parts of the heath were cleared of woody growth in 2008, 2012 and November 2020. The protection status and these dated clearances offer different perspectives on the area over time: its designation as a natural monument and specific measures carried out in parts of the site.
Discover more destinations: Drees, Uersfeld, Lirstal, Retterath, Borler, Berenbach, Mannebach, Brücktal
For the broader travel overview: Kelberg.
