The five-arched railway viaduct, built in 1907, brings Strickscheid’s railway history to life on site: the bridge is used as a footpath and cycle path. At the same time, the settlement lies on an open high plateau. Those looking for a holiday apartment can consider Strickscheid as a destination with a clear focus on local history and cycle paths.
Local History from Roman Times to the Railway
Settlement remains and burial mounds attest to prehistoric and Roman settlement in Strickscheid. The village was probably founded during the late medieval land-clearance period in the 12th or 13th century. Its ecclesiastical history can also be dated: until 1788, Strickscheid belonged to the old parish of Pronsfeld; in 1808, it was assigned to the newly established independent parish of LĂĽnebach.
The landscape also features a striking contrast between the settlement’s location and its access route: Strickscheid lies on an open high plateau, while the access road runs through a narrow valley about one kilometre to the east.
Until the 1960s, Strickscheid had a rail connection from Pronsfeld via Arzfeld to Neuerburg. The viaduct, built in 1907 with its five arches, recalls this transport history and is now used as a footpath and cycle path. Check the current conditions along the path before your visit.
Those interested in railways beyond the viaduct can visit the railway museum in nearby Pronsfeld. It presents the history of the railway in Pronsfeld since 1886. The former railway station grounds in Pronsfeld are also freely accessible; check the current access status before your visit.
Cycle Paths and Different Scales
The Enz Cycle Path is a distinct regional route: it runs 46.6 kilometres from Pronsfeld to Holsthum and is considered easy. This makes it possible to distinguish a specific bike tour with set start and end points from using the viaduct, which begins at a historic structure on site.
Another point of reference applies to cycle paths on former railway lines in the Eifel: their gradients are generally mostly below 2.5 percent, and they are almost entirely paved. Individual sections may differ. This description applies to the category of former railway lines, not to every cycle route in the Eifel.
More Culture in the Eifelkreis Bitburg-PrĂĽm
Other destinations in the wider travel region of Eifelkreis Bitburg-Prüm offer their own cultural highlights. The Devonium in Waxweiler presents complex topics in palaeontology and the science of fossil life in a playful way. At the Mühlenberger Stollen Bleialf visitor mine, a mining trail with numerous information boards introduces visitors to the area’s mining history. One-hour guided tours cover ore mining, from geology to applied technology; check the seasonal dates in advance.
The water castle of Rittersdorf, around 700 years old, has remained almost unchanged since it was built and offers a glimpse of late medieval and Renaissance residential culture. The castle also houses a privately run restaurant serving refined regional cuisine. Check whether the restaurant is open before making plans.
Discover more destinations: Daleiden, Neurath, Kinzenburg, PlĂĽtscheid, Lauperath, Harspelt, Eschfeld, Preischeid.
Back to the wider travel overview: Arzfeld.
