Schönbach combines a distinctive local history with a volcanic landscape. The Quirinus Chapel tells the story of how the town centre was shaped, while Kreuzberg, its viewpoint and the hiking trails reveal different sides of the surrounding area. This lets you consider both culture and nature when choosing a travel destination.
Chapel, Local History and Parish Fair
In the centre of Schönbach, next to the municipal building, stands the Quirinus Chapel. It was built in 1968. Its features include colourful ornamental round-arched windows, a large window depicting Saint Michael, and a Baroque altar more than five metres high. The altar is dedicated to Saint Quirinus and the Five Holy Wounds.
Schönbach is mentioned in a document dating from 1364. In the local dialect, the name is Schimmich—a concise, distinctive form of the place name. The Schönbach parish fair is also part of local tradition: it is celebrated on the first Sunday in September, and the programme may vary from year to year. The fair was revived in 2010 following the founding of the Bambini volunteer fire brigade.
Kreuzberg: Volcanic Landscape and Views
Kreuzberg is a Tuff and sand volcano dating from the Cenozoic Era. Together with Hummerich, it forms the northern barrier of the Schönbach valley. Both are among the older Eifel volcanoes and are thought to be well over 100,000 years old. The landscape also tells a story of more recent use: millstones were first quarried at Kreuzberg, followed later by lava, an activity that continued until the 1960s.
At 516 metres above sea level, the Eifel-Blick Kreuzberg viewpoint offers far-reaching views across the Eifel landscape as far as the heights of the Hunsrück. For those who want to experience the landscape beyond the viewpoint, the area around Eifel-Blick offers hikes of varying lengths and difficulty levels.
Local tradition also links Kreuzberg with history: a cross there is traditionally associated with the gratitude of people returning from the Second World War. The tradition of maintaining the cross continues to this day. The Kreuzberg site also helps preserve the Eifel's cultural landscape, including characteristic plant life and small organisms.
Hiking Around Schönbach
One specifically described route is the moderate, 14.6-kilometre HeimatSpur Täler- und Höhenweg (Valleys and Heights Trail). This circular hike starts and ends at the Landgasthaus “Zum Kreuzberg” in Schönbach. It loops around Schönbach and Utzerath, passes the Kreuzberg viewpoint, and goes through wooded sections and valleys alongside small streams. The route is freely accessible; parking is available on Mühlenweg.
The route offers a clearly defined option for anyone wishing to include a longer circular hike in their travel plans. There are also hikes of varying lengths and difficulty levels in the area around the Eifel-Blick Kreuzberg viewpoint. You can therefore weigh the HeimatSpur's specific distance and moderate difficulty against the other hiking options available.
The Vulkaneifel as a Regional Setting
Across the wider Vulkaneifel travel region, volcanic activity has shaped a landscape of volcanic cones, mineral springs and a high concentration of distinctive natural features. The Vulkaneifel is a UNESCO Global Geopark and is especially known for its maars, formed by steam explosions. So far, 77 maars have been identified there, along with 350 eruption centres, around 270 of them from a more recent phase. These regional figures provide a broader geological context for exploring the landscape, while Kreuzberg has its own history as a tuff and sand volcano and former quarrying site.
Discover more destinations: Üdersdorf, Ellscheid, Steiningen, Deudesfeld, Hinterweiler, Brockscheid, Kradenbach, Wallenborn.
For the wider travel overview: Daun.
