Wederath brings together archaeological traces of Belginum, the history of the Church of the Finding of the Cross and a working grist mill. Two very different hiking options are central to planning: a trail just under 1,000 metres long through the grounds of the archaeological park, and the longer Belginum hiking trail between towns on the Moselle and the Hunsrück. You can decide whether to explore archaeological sites on a short walk or plan a longer hike with a clearly chosen starting point.

Belginum: Cemetery, Settlement and Museum

The archaeological complex of Belginum associated with Wederath includes a Celtic-Roman cemetery, the Roman-era settlement of Belginum with several temple precincts, and an early Roman military camp. This takes you from a burial site through settlement and ritual areas to a military installation. These different components offer several ways to explore the archaeological subject, rather than reducing Belginum to a single group of finds.

In Wederath, Belginum Archaeological Park is linked to a museum. It presents the results of archaeological research, as well as finds from Wederath’s Iron Age cemetery and from the provincial Roman population in ancient Belginum. This brings together finds from the cemetery and evidence of the provincial Roman population; the topics mentioned span the Iron Age through the Roman period. Those interested in archaeology will find both research and different groups of finds among the main themes here.

Two Hiking Trails, Two Scales

A hiking trail just under 1,000 metres long runs through various parts of the settlement and cemetery in the grounds of the archaeological park, with informative signs along the way. The signs guide you through precisely the areas that define the archaeological complex. Alongside the longer Belginum hiking trail, this offers a clearly defined route focusing on the settlement and cemetery.

Opened in 2005, the Belginum hiking trail offers a different scale: it connects the Moselle towns of Bernkastel-Kues and Traben-Trarbach with Belginum Archaeological Park in the hills of the Hunsrück. Above the Kautenbach district, it passes through the Trabenerbach Valley, an unspoilt side valley of the Moselle, to the archaeological park near Wederath.

Two approximate distances are given for the full hike: Bernkastel-Kues to Belginum is around 14 kilometres, while the route from the banks of the Moselle in Traben-Trarbach to Belginum is around 16 kilometres. The starting points differ, as do the route lengths. Choose your option according to your preferred starting point, and check current trail conditions before setting out.

Church History and Milling Technology

The present, larger Baroque Church of the Finding of the Cross was built in 1756–1758, after the chapel was renovated in 1669 following a fire. The dates mark separate building phases: the chapel’s renovation was followed later by the construction of the larger church. This helps distinguish the two stages in Wederath’s church history.

Inside are a pulpit, a 1766 Pietà, a cast relief depicting the Fourteen Holy Helpers, and various statues of saints. There is also a beautiful Baroque altar with a tall tabernacle, which did not arrive in Wederath until the 20th century. Its later arrival adds a separate history of furnishings to the building’s history.

Opposite the church stands an old, working grist mill, which is often demonstrated during mill walks in the Hunsrück. This brings together two different ways of experiencing local history: the church’s architectural and furnishing history, and milling technology, which visitors can see in action during a demonstration.

Discover more nearby destinations: Hoxel, Gonzerath, Hinzerath

For the overview of the wider area: Morbach.