The Weinsheim hiking trail passes through Willwerath; the reservoir, the Prüm River and historic buildings reveal other sides of the village. This offers more than one single focus when choosing a destination: you can combine exercise and scenery with a fishing lake, a church and a mill. The specific trail distances, scenery along the circular route and local architectural history can help you decide which of these themes should shape your stay.
Hiking between river meadows and woodland
The Weinsheim hiking trail is a 12.8-kilometre circular route rated easy to moderate. It connects Weinsheim, Gondelsheim, Willwerath and Hermespand. Two sections from Willwerath are listed, with different lengths: 3.8 kilometres to Gondelsheim and 2.2 kilometres to Hermespand. The 2.2-kilometre route to Hermespand is the shorter of the two; the connection to Gondelsheim is 1.6 kilometres longer. If you are considering the entire circular route, its total length of 12.8 kilometres and easy-to-moderate rating are also useful points of reference.
Along the way, the scenery alternates between mixed forest, open stands of beech and oak, fields and meadows; the route also follows the floodplains of the Prüm and Mühlbach rivers. The trail includes a detour to the “Eifelblick” observation tower on the Hardt and passes through the Niesenberg nature reserve. This means that woodland, open spaces and river meadows feature as distinct landscapes along the same loop. The Prüm flows through almost all of Willwerath, while the Hardt woodland borders the village along the mountain slopes.
Church, altar and mill
The Church of St. Lambertus in Willwerath was built in 1869 and opened for religious use in 1904. Architecturally, it is a post-Baroque hall church with a roof turret; the year 1869 is also inscribed on the building. The church contains a small Rococo altar, which came from the parish church in Nussbaum and was restored in the 1980s. Its architectural style, provenance and restoration offer different insights into the church’s history. The Willwerath Mill on the Mühlbach is a grain and saw mill.
Willwerath Reservoir and fishing
Willwerath Reservoir has a water surface area of 1.62 hectares. Since 1971, it has been the fishing club waters of Angelverein Prüm 1967 e. V. Coarse anglers can fish for mirror carp and common carp. Pike, zander, perch and eels are also found in the lake; native Eifel brown trout are stocked. To reach the “Ostufer” car park by the Anglerklause, drive through Willwerath: turn into “Im Auelsecken” and follow the signs from there.
Annual traditions
Recurring events also give the village its own rhythm through the year. For many decades, the fire brigade and young bachelors have put up the maypole on Walpurgis Night. Every year on the first weekend of September, the fire brigade provides refreshments during the “Lustiges Prümtal” cycling Sunday. If you would like to plan your stay around this event, check the specific dates before making arrangements. The fire brigade also holds a summer festival in the village community centre every two years.
Discover more destinations: Orlenbach, Auw, Feuerscheid, Habscheid, Brandscheid, Obermehlen, Großlangenfeld, Pittenbach.
Return to the main travel overview: Prüm.
