Dackscheid can be planned around two clear highlights: the municipality presents five hiking routes through the scenic surrounding area, while St. Celsus Chapel brings together several historical periods. For your travel plans, this means choosing between outdoor experiences on the trails and architectural and religious history. You can decide which aspect to focus on depending on whether you mainly want to spend time outdoors or explore the chapel’s history.
Hiking among streams, valleys and hills
The municipality of Dackscheid presents five varied hiking routes through the scenic surrounding area. The trails pass natural streams, valleys and hills. So your choice is not limited to the number of routes: the types of landscape also offer a concrete guide to the kind of surroundings you might particularly enjoy on a hike.
The hiking routes presented are classified as easy to moderate. This classification can serve as a general guide when choosing a route, but conditions may vary from one trail to another. Route details can change locally. If you are planning a particular hike, check the latest information from the municipality beforehand. This keeps the general classification separate from the details of your specific plans.
Historical periods in St. Celsus Chapel
Several historical dates come together at St. Celsus Chapel. A small stone plaque bearing a crucifix and the year 1585 is built in above the entrance. The present-day chapel was built and consecrated in 1933. These dates refer to different parts of its history: the date on the plaque is considerably earlier than the construction of the present building.
The high altar in the present-day chapel is a Baroque wooden column altar from the predecessor chapel, which was built in 1726. Its origins therefore point to an earlier chapel, while the present building belongs to a later construction period. The altar’s design, material and provenance make it a distinct point of reference for the chapel’s history.
The Way of the Cross is also depicted in the chapel in 14 stations. These stations give the Way of the Cross a clearly numbered structure and complement the architectural features with a religious depiction.
Historical connections and feast day
At the eastern edge of Dackscheid, a Roman road linked the transport hubs of Gesotz and Oberlauch. This historic route offers a different perspective from St. Celsus Chapel: while the chapel foregrounds architectural history and furnishings, the road points to an earlier transport connection through the landscape. For travellers interested in culture, these are two distinct themes that reveal Dackscheid’s history from different angles.
The patronal festival, the Celsus Festival, takes place in Dackscheid on 23 February or the following Sunday. If you would like to plan your trip around the festival, it is advisable to confirm the date locally.
Discover more destinations: Leidenborn, Preischeid, Eschfeld, Eilscheid, Lichtenborn, Olmscheid, Strickscheid, Neurath.
For the overview of the wider area: Arzfeld.
