The best walks and hikes around Peffingen

Nicely designed information boards with interesting regional and supra-regional questions

To the right, on the wall, stands a Black Madonna – the "Non-Maria" (Mary in Need), around whom many legends have arisen. The first hermits had to make do with a small hermitage on the protruding rock next to the chapel, which was only accessible via a narrow bridge. A footbridge still leads to the rock. In the 18th and 19th centuries, the current hermit's dwelling was built, attached to the south side of the church. Around 25 hermits have lived in the hermitage over the years. From May to September, the Schankweiler Hermitage is a very popular wedding church. Every year, on May 1st, the pilgrimage season is opened with a pilgrimage service. In addition, church services are held regularly. For more information, please contact the church. The Schankweiler Klause is the starting and ending point of the Klausnerweg hiking trail in the NaturWanderPark delux. A parking lot for hikers is located a short distance from the church and the hermit's dwelling.

A baroque jewel in the solitude of the forest. Northeast of the Ferschweiler plateau, above the villages of Schankweiler and Holsthum, a simple church is hidden in the forest. Two plaques on the facade mention the year of construction, while the inscription and the niche figure above the portal refer to the patron saint: the current pilgrimage chapel of Maria Hilf (Our Lady of Perpetual Help) was built in 1762 on the Schankweilerhöhe. It was not the first building on this spot; a chapel with an associated hermitage is already mentioned in 1648. Anyone who enters the church is amazed: behind the simple facade lies a rich late baroque interior. The centerpiece of the high altar is the miraculous image, a enthroned Madonna surrounded by a halo of rays, dating from the 17th century. This is Our Lady of Good Counsel, to whom numerous pilgrims flock annually.

The Roman burial ground of Holsthum (Römisches Gräberfeld von Holsthum) in the German Eifel, located near the Schankweiler Klause, houses special sarcophagi from Roman times. The graves are situated on a slope in the forest above the village of Holsthum. They date from the early 2nd century AD. These are Gallo-Roman graves, whose burial chambers are constructed from vertical sandstone slabs. They look like small houses, hence the designation 'sarcophagi' or 'flat graves'. Urns with the ashes of the deceased and grave goods were placed in these sarcophagi. One of the seven graves is a striking, larger stone sarcophagus. Some graves were covered with roof- or house-shaped stones, including an obelisk-shaped stone and a stone in the shape of a truncated pyramid. The burial ground is considered the cemetery of a nearby Roman farm (villa rustica).

Schankweiler is a place in the German state of Rhineland-Palatinate, and is part of the Eifelkreis Bitburg-Prüm. In 2020, Schankweiler had 198 inhabitants.

The parking spaces at the Roman villa could also serve as a starting point for a hike. There's also a rest area at the villa for a break. Quite a nice view from up here.

The remains of an impressive Roman villa stand in the middle of the countryside – complete with an information panel and a reconstructed floor plan. Where landowners once lived, you can now stroll among the ruins and gaze deep into the past. The excavation impressively demonstrates how complex life was in ancient times – and how closely connected it is to this landscape. 📚 Tip: Take a quick look at the information panel – the representation of the rooms will give you a real visual impression of what it looked like here 2,000 years ago.

This small chapel along the trail has a simple feel – and that's precisely what makes it so special. The colorful windows bathe the room in soft light, and the modern mural above the altar quietly draws the eye. A bench invites you to pause – a quiet space for reflection, prayer, or simply a deep breath in the midst of your daily hiking routine. 🕯 Tip: Feel free to take a few steps inside. Even if you're not religious, there's something peaceful about this place that everyone can feel.