The best road cycling routes around Rotter Lake

In a spiritual reflection, Dr. Tobias Schwaderlapp (Diocesan Youth Chaplain in the Archdiocese of Cologne) invited us to "rediscover this: quiet resting in God." To the hiker pauses before this small sacred monument, I would like to briefly share a key passage from his reflection: "One thought has become particularly important to me: Prayer doesn't always mean having to say a lot of words. Prayer can also simply mean resting in God. I sit down, become still (sometimes that takes a while!) – and am simply present. Trusting that God is also present. That he sees me, is interested in me, understands me, surrounds me."

A very beautiful, old wayside cross. It's worth the detour from the TRO trail!

I really like this route too. The last stretch – next to the stables – has a lot of potholes and there's a lot of traffic: cars and pedestrians. So you need to pay close attention there.

The monument was donated by citizens of Spich. The Mother Teresa monument was unveiled on September 5, 2025.

Great beer garden in the courtyard

You have to drive through the countryside with your eyes open, then you'll see things like this much more often.

A cross probably stood on this spot as early as the Middle Ages, intended to protect the Kriegsdorf residents from crop failure, protect them from evil, and, above all, keep unbelievers away. Since 1821, the willow cross served as a boundary stone, marking an important trigonometric point for the old municipal boundary between Kriegsdorf and the municipality of Sieglar. It is also the intersection point of the old field names at this location: The names of the parcels are "Am Weidenkreuz" in the west, "Klein Kriegsdorf" in the north, "Am Kriegsdorfer Mühlenweg" in the east, and "Hohner Weg" in the south. The current cross dates from around 1920/30. After repeated acts of vandalism, it was renovated in 2011. Master blacksmith Hans Walter Brungs from Niederkassel-Mondorf undertook the forging work. The name "Am Weidenkreuz" (At the Willow Cross) probably originates from the fact that pollard willows grew in this area, providing the local basket makers with willow rods for making baskets, brooms, etc. The willow cross was also a blessing cross. Kriegsdorf processions would stop in front of the cross so the priest could offer the blessing. Beforehand, the local residents would decorate the cross.

In 1414, the Abtshof, located approximately 150 meters southeast of this wayside cross, was the first farm in the area of today's Kriegsdorf. The name indicated that the farm belonged to the Siegburg Abbey. From 1694 onwards, the married couple Mattheiß Kerpener and Irmgard Krift managed the Abtshof as tenants; in later years, Mattheiß Kerpener changed his surname to Kerp. In 1832, their descendants bought the Abtshof. The couple probably donated the wayside cross as early as 1714. For this reason, the wayside cross is called the Kerpekreuz, and the former Abtshof became the Kerper Hof (sometimes also called Kerpehof or Kerpenhof). In earlier years, when the Rheidt basket makers made their way to the Wahner Heide, they passed the Kerpekreuz. According to one story, they whet their knives on the stone of the cross to sharpen them. The sandstone stone was obviously well-suited for this purpose. The Kerpe Cross was also a blessing cross. Kriegsdorf processions would stop in front of the cross so the priest could offer the blessing. Beforehand, Kriegsdorf residents would decorate the cross.