Bleckhausen brings together the history of St. Anthony’s Church and hiking trails through woodland and juniper heath. The village centre is a cultural focal point; the Wacholder-Kyll Trail starts there and leads to the Fuchskopf, with views over the Kleine Kyll valley. Other historic buildings and the annual pilgrimage to Klausen round out the picture.
Church, Bells and Local History
St. Anthony’s Church stands in the centre of Bleckhausen and dates from 1787. Its peal comprises six bells. Two of them are dated 1394 and are considered the oldest bronze-ribbed bells in the Eifel region within the Diocese of Trier; a bell from the same year is also located in Gillenfeld. The church is a hall church. It was extended in 1846, and the tower and side extensions were added after 1945.
Other historic buildings display a variety of styles and dates. Opposite Brunnenstraße 2a stands a well house, probably dating from the 19th century. The former school at Brunnenstraße 5a is a hipped-roof building, partly clad in slate, and is believed to date from 1843. At the junction of Hauptstraße and Auf der Held stands a sandstone shaft cross dating from 1810. Southwest of Bleckhausen, on the Kleine Kyll, is Bleckhausen Mill, a grain mill dating from 1799. The annual pilgrimage to Klausen is part of the village’s longstanding religious tradition.
Hiking Trails from Bleckhausen
The HeimatSpur Wacholder-Kyll Trail starts and ends at the church in the village centre. It runs mostly through woodland and juniper heath. At the Fuchskopf, a viewpoint offers views over the Kleine Kyll valley. At a rest stop, carved wooden animals introduce visitors to the local fauna. A circular route from Bleckhausen passes through the nearby juniper conservation area, a section of the Trombach valley, and meadows and fields before returning to the starting point.
Parking for the start is available at the church or at the hiking car park on the L 46, at the exit towards Manderscheid. Check the latest route and parking information before setting out. This will help you choose the starting point that best suits your plans.
Accommodation and the Regional Setting
Holiday homes and holiday apartments are among the accommodation options in Bleckhausen. As availability can change, check the latest options before your trip.
Bleckhausen lies in the heart of the Vulkaneifel Nature and Geopark. To date, 77 maars have been identified in the Vulkaneifel; 350 volcanic centres have also been counted, around 270 of them from the more recent phase. Ulmen Maar marks the most recent volcanic eruption in the Vulkaneifel, which took place around 10,900 years ago. These regional geological connections provide a broader context for your stay, while the trails and historic buildings in Bleckhausen bring the focus back to the village itself.
The Vulkaneifel trails are marked and signposted. The regional trail network includes half-day hikes, day hikes and multi-day walks. Longer examples include the 23.4-kilometre eleventh stage of the Eifelsteig from Daun to Manderscheid and the 26.2-kilometre Vulcano Trail, a circular route east of Schalkenmehren. The Vulkaneifel destination therefore offers a range of hiking options.
Discover more destinations: Utzerath, Meisburg, Wallenborn, Hinterweiler, Betteldorf, Immerath, Schutz, Tettscheid.
For the overview of the wider destination: Daun.
