In Üttfeld, archaeological traces of a Roman villa meet sacred art in St. Nicholas. The foundations and bath complex offer insight into the Roman past; in Binscheid, paintings, an altar and local traditions tell of other historical layers. A cycling tour along the former railway line adds a glimpse of the surrounding landscape to these themes.
The Roman villa and its bath complex
In the “Auf der Burg” district between Niederüttfeld and Oberüttfeld, the foundations of a Roman villa were uncovered in 1990/91. It was probably built around the middle of the 1st century AD and abandoned in the first third of the 4th century AD. This dating makes the site a tangible point of reference for anyone interested in Roman history.
The villa included a well-preserved bath complex. It comprised a frigidarium, or cold room, and a caldarium, a warm room; both rooms had a water basin. The names and basins make the bathing area easy to picture as part of the complex. At the original site near Oberüttfeld, visitors can use a smartphone or tablet to see the villa recreated virtually and access information about it. Check whether the application is available before visiting.
St. Nicholas in Binscheid: paintings, altar and tradition
In the parish church of St. Nicholas in Binscheid, a district of Üttfeld, there is a ceiling painting by Christoph März in the choir, created around 1900. It depicts the seven sacraments of the Catholic Church in a liturgical context. After the Second World War, the painting was covered over; in the 1980s, it was uncovered again under Pastor Kasel and extensively restored. In addition to its subject, it therefore has its own restoration history.
Another art-historical highlight is the church’s Renaissance high altar, which dates from the early 17th century. The altar and ceiling painting give the same parish church two distinct artistic and historical focal points.
A baptismal font stands in front of the parish church and is linked by local tradition to the baptism performed by Saint Willibrord. Each year, the Hommerding family also creates a detailed, atmospheric cave nativity scene in the church, illuminated with care and made from roots, branches and fir trees. Its materials and design provide a distinctive accent alongside the historic works of art.
Cycling along the former railway line
In the surrounding area, the “Cycling along the former railway line” route runs between Üttfeld and Arzfeld along the railway line between Prüm and Neuerburg. Highlights of this section include views across the rugged Islek, the barren soil with broom and thorn bushes, and the plateau stretching as far as Luxembourg. The comparison thus brings two different perspectives together: archaeological and ecclesiastical heritage in Üttfeld, and a cycling tour shaped by the landscape in the surrounding area.
Accommodation and information
Several inns and holiday homes are available in Üttfeld for holidays or short stays. As the availability of individual options may change, check which ones suit your travel dates. The tourist office at Luxemburger Straße 6 in Arzfeld is a source of information about inns and holiday homes in Üttfeld.
More to explore in the Eifelkreis Bitburg-Prüm
The Eifelkreis Bitburg-Prüm also offers a range of cultural attractions. At the Mühlenberger Stollen Bleialf visitor mine, one-hour tours take visitors through the mine and explore ore mining in Bleialf, from geology to applied technology. The mine also has a mining trail with numerous information boards on the area’s mining history. The Devonium in Waxweiler presents complex topics in palaeontology and the science of fossil life in a playful way.
The Westwall Museum is housed on three accessible floors of a bunker and features a military history exhibition in underground corridors and rooms. The water castle in Rittersdorf, around 700 years old, has remained virtually unchanged since it was built and offers a glimpse of late medieval and early modern Renaissance residential culture. The castle has a privately run restaurant serving fine country cuisine; check whether it is open before visiting.
Discover more destinations: Daleiden, Leidenborn, Kinzenburg, Olmscheid, Dackscheid, Hargarten, Harspelt, Dasburg
Go to the main travel overview: Arzfeld.
