The late Gothic Beller Church and the 1.6-kilometre Strandpfad der Sinne (Path of the Senses) show two different sides of Eckelsheim: architectural history and a themed trail above the church. Viticulture and geological history add to the picture of the village. When choosing Eckelsheim for a trip, you can distinguish between cultural history, a specific walking route and topics relating to the landscape.
Beller Church and Historic Farmsteads
The Beller Church was built in the late Gothic style by 1519; its walls have been preserved to their full height. It once served as a pilgrimage church. The Beller Market was held around the church until 1902. Today, the church hosts cultural events, including concerts. The programme may vary, so it is worth checking current dates before your visit.
Eckelsheim’s architectural heritage also includes several lovingly renovated historic farmsteads that invite visitors to explore. They complement the church’s history with another form of historic architecture. Eckelsheim thus brings different themes together: the late Gothic architecture and former use of the Beller Church, alongside its renovated farm complexes.
Strandpfad der Sinne
The Strandpfad der Sinne (Path of the Senses) is a 1.6-kilometre themed trail above the Beller Church. Its features include stone and herb installations as well as a barefoot path. The focus here is on the trail and its installations, while the Beller Church mainly offers insights into architectural and local history.
The trail begins and ends at the car park by the Beller Church. The start and finish are therefore at the same car park, a useful landmark when planning your route. As the installations may require maintenance, check for current information when making specific plans. If access changes, it is also worth checking the local parking situation.
Viticulture and Geological History
Eckelsheim is a wine-growing village where you can also enjoy gastronomy, culture, the landscape and nature. Vines grow on Eckelsheimer Kirchberg in gravelly sand and volcanic rock. Viticulture is therefore rooted in a specific landscape whose soil contains not only sand but also volcanic rock.
The geological history goes back a long way: around 30 million years ago, the area around Eckelsheim was covered by a subtropical sea. A former coastline and a surf cliff are part of the geological landscape around Eckelsheim. These features give the landscape a different time scale from the history of the church and the Beller Market.
Culture and Geological History in the Wider Alzey-Worms Destination
In the wider Alzey-Worms destination, the Museum of the City of Alzey presents a prehistoric and early historical exhibition on the cultural development of central Rheinhessen. It spans the Neolithic, Bronze, Iron and Roman Ages through to the Merovingian period, documenting a period of more than 6,000 years.
Another exhibition at the Museum of the City of Alzey focuses on geology and palaeontology, with a look at the Mainz Basin. Minerals, especially fossils, help trace its development over millions of years. Alzey-Worms thus offers its own cultural-historical and geological perspective in the regional context.
Discover more destinations: Wendelsheim.
View the wider travel overview: Wöllstein.
