Schönberg

At the site of the Viewpoint indicator, King Baudouin of Belgium said during a visit to the region in 1967: "Do you know what a paradise you are living in here?" A panoramic photo from a bird's-eye view shows you the surrounding area and its typical features. There are just 700 metres between the cycle path, which connects Schönberg with the internationally highly regarded Vennbahn railway route and the board. However, it also involves a climb of 70 metres in altitude. Hikers won't want to miss the short (approx. 300 metres each way) and signposted detour between hiking junction 14 in Schönberg and 30 in Amelscheid that leads to the panoramic display board.

The Our is a mountain stream that collects its water from over 600 springs. It originates at Loshaimergraben in Belgian territory and runs largely along the Belgian-German and Luxembourgish-German borders. After approximately 100 km, the Our flows into the Sauer. Especially at the upper reaches, the Our flows largely untouched and forms meanders, which provide a habitat for numerous species. The cool and oxygen-rich water of the Our is ideal for brown trout, bullheads and brook lampreys. The rare freshwater pearl mussel can also be found here on occasion. Alders, birches and willows grow on the banks of the river Our to fortify it. This creates an ideal habitat, for example, for the water ouzel – one of the few birds that can both swim and dive.

In the upper Our Valley, the Nordic Walking Park's four different routes through beautiful landscapes offer optimal conditions for Nordic walking. The routes have different lengths between 5.3 and 13.5 km, as well as different difficulty levels. A board provides information about the different routes. Nordic walking sticks can be rented free of charge in the restaurant "Zum Burghof".

The Großweberbach nature reserve covers more than 20 hectares of streamside meadows. The wetlands and spignel meadows preserved there are important habitats for numerous species and at the same time a relic from agricultural production in earlier times. The low-nutrient soils in the Bach Valley were watered by the farmers in spring with spring water and thus received important nutrients. In late summer, they were then mowed, which led to the formation of a productive lawn at these points. In addition, this extensive use allowed new and, at times, unusual, fauna and flora to form. In order to preserve this valuable natural area, the Natagora nature conservation association and its local offshoot Natagora/BNVS have bought up numerous plots on the Großweberbach and take care of the upkeep of the area. The Großweberbach Valley can be explored on numerous hiking routes.

Only the entrance area of the tunnel in the Langerbach on the banks of the Our is accessible. It probably dates back to the Schönberg mining period and could have been a test tunnel for a mine. In earlier times, it was popularly believed that it was a secret route to the castle. However, this idea is considered unlikely. During the Ardennes offensive in World War II, the tunnel served as a shelter for the residents of Schönberg.

The rule of the Schönberg was established by the Prüm Abbey and fortified with a castle presumably in the 11th or 12th century. In 1689, troops of Louis XIV destroyed the castle. It was located above the village on a hill. All that remains are a few vestiges of the walls, part of the moat and a Gothic fragment of the castle chapel, which can be found in the "Herrjottsjärtchen" at the former site of the castle chapel. All other remains are mostly on private property. Some relics of the castle can be seen in the Hotel Schmiede: the hotel's masonry consists entirely of stone torn down from the castle, the café has ceiling beams, and the bar has a crest of a former price-elector built into the wall. The free citizens lived around the castle hill, but still inside the circular wall. According to legend, in the 14th century, Count Otto allowed the poorest farmers to settle here in order to keep his “peasant warriors” around at all times. Today, this complex is called a "Bürgerschaft" (township) and is therefore reminiscent of the farmers who lived here. As a reminder of this important time for the area, a symbolic tower with an information board was erected at the approximate location of the castle at that time.

At König-Baudouin-Platz near the church, there is a monument in honour of the American soldiers who fell or were imprisoned around Schönberg during World War II. In December 1944, Schönberg was the scene of bitter battles between the German troops and American units. After a rapid counter-offensive by the Germans, the 7000 American soldiers had no choice but to surrender. It was the largest-scale surrender of the Americans on the European battlefield. More than 200 of the captured soldiers did not survive the horrific conditions inflicted on the prisoners of war. In addition to this historically important memorial, the square also features a playground and a wooden pavilion in the form of a parasol, where guests can relax and enjoy a picnic

The parish church of Schönberg, which was completed in 1828 according to plans of the famous Prussian architect Karl Friedrich Schinkel, was hit hard by shells at the beginning of the Ardennes offensive on 16 December 1944, which meant the church had to be rebuilt. The new church was inaugurated in 1962. Before mass could be held again at the new church, the services had been held at Saal Schröder and then in an emergency church, which today serves as a parish community centre.  The brickwork of the new church is made of rubble stone, and the tower stands 20 metres tall. The high, colourful windows have been fitted with modern lead glazing. Inside the church, besides the windows and what at the time was a very modern Way of the Cross, the choir room with the communion bench and the altar made of black Belgian marble stand out in particular, as well as the 75 kg steel tabernacle, whose enamelled doors are decorated with 35 crystals from the mountain. Under the decorative acoustic element is a silver-plated copper Christ on a wooden cross made in 1961. At the back of the church in the baptistery is the Pieta of Schönberg, a picture of the Virgin Mary. It dates back to the first half of the 16th century and was salvaged from the castle chapel. Another special feature of the church is the 19th-century winged (folding) altar dedicated to the Fourteen Holy Helpers in the choir room. The winged altar is a special kind of altarpiece that is common in Central Europe, in which the fixed altar shrine can be closed by several wings. The altar dedicated to the Fourteen Holy Helpers in Schönberg consists of two wings, two back plates and 16 paintings of the 14 Holy Helpers and two angels. The Holy Helpers were saints from the 2nd to 4th century. In the middle of the altar is a statue of the parish patron, St. George from around 1850.

The "Our Lady of Lourdes" grotto goes back to an idea Father Franz Darcis had in 1938. The Schönberg clergyman had expressed his wish to create a modest Lourdes grotto in the parish garden. The congregation came up with the plan to build a public grotto that could serve as a place of pilgrimage. So they started digging a grotto into the mountain with picks and shovels. The project proved to be very laborious, so they decided to commission a Flemish company to complete the grotto. On the hill behind the grotto, a Way of the Cross was created, which initially consisted of the seven footfalls of Schönberg. Later, it was turned into a complete unit. Today, the 14 stations are maintained throughout the year by several families from Schönberg and the surrounding area. The ensemble was inaugurated in 1939. The Calvary and grotto attract several pilgrims for a procession of lights on 15 August (Assumption of the Virgin Mary).

The seven footfalls, which originally stood at the cemetery and then from 1938 to 1995 were in the immediate vicinity of the Lourdes grotto, were moved to the present location below the Calvary behind the rectory in 1995. They form a shortened Way of the Cross. The name was given to this form of worship because the worshippers knelt down at each of the seven memorial stations and prayed. The walk to the footfalls was a custom when someone was dying. Traditionally seven virgins or seven children from the neighbourhood would pray for a happy hour of death for the person dying.