A chapel of St. Peter with frescoes dating from the early 14th century, clusters of half-timbered houses and a certified circular hiking trail give Spay several distinct points of interest. There is also a left-bank Rhine cycle path that follows two routes through the town. If you are looking for accommodation, it is worth first deciding whether local history, hiking or cycling will be the main focus of your stay.

Half-timbered houses and churches in Spay

Spay is one of the places with a particularly large number of half-timbered houses in the Middle Rhine Valley. The residential buildings, often grouped together, mostly date from the 17th and 18th centuries. Their concentration adds a distinct aspect of local history to the individual religious buildings: alongside churches and chapels, clusters of houses also shape the picture of the town’s architectural history.

The Chapel of St. Peter at the entrance to the town is a High Medieval Gothic religious building, first mentioned in documents in 1237. Its frescoes date from the early 14th century. The dates refer to different things: 1237 is the first documented mention, while the early 14th century dates the frescoes.

The Old Church and the Parish Church of St. Lambertus provide further historical reference points. The Old Church dates from 1670 and is associated with classical concerts held there regularly. St. Lambertus was built in 1897 and is a historicist church. Together with the medieval Chapel of St. Peter, these buildings represent different periods; the Old Church also has a connection to classical music.

Hiking trail, pilgrimage path and cycle route

The certified “Spayer Blick ins Tal” Dream Trail is a 6.1-kilometre circular hiking trail offering views of the Middle Rhine Valley. The loop is a specific option for a day of hiking. The Chapel of Our Lady of Sorrows, located in the forest, lies on the pilgrimage path, which forms part of the Dream Trail. The route thus connects its viewpoints with a local religious building and the course of the pilgrimage path.

For cycling, the left-bank Rhine cycle path runs through the town either along the Rhine promenades or on a separate cycle path beside the road. This means there are two described routes for the section through Spay. Check local conditions before setting off. Minor bicycle repairs can be carried out at the bicycle station on the Rhine in Spay; facility details may change and should be checked on site.

Hiking and cycling offer different focuses: for the Dream Trail, the circular route, its length and views of the Middle Rhine Valley are highlighted; for the cycle path, the two routes through the town are the main feature.

Viticulture in the wider region

The wider region is home to three traditional wineries that produce wines from grapes grown on the steep slopes of the Bopparder Hamm. This viticulture adds a regional perspective on the landscape and its produce to the themes of half-timbered houses, churches and outdoor activities. It is therefore an additional consideration when planning a trip, without changing the local context of the buildings and routes described.

Discover more destinations: Vordereifel, Niederfell, Mülheim-Kärlich, Kollig, Kirchwald, Urmitz, Kettig, Siebenbach.

Go to the main travel overview: Mayen-Koblenz.