The best traffic-free bike rides around Pomster

Saint John of Nepomuk was a priest (Vicar General of the Archbishop) in Bohemia who died a martyr's death in Prague in 1393. On royal command, he was thrown from the Charles Bridge in Prague into the Vltava River and drowned. His statue can still be found on or near many bridges today – here in the town of Blankenheim, twice in close proximity to the source of the Ahr River. He is considered not only a popular "bridge saint" but is also the patron saint of the seal of confession. In many depictions of him, he holds a cross in one hand, and with the other, he sometimes places a finger on his lips as a sign of silence (about what was heard during confession). The feast day of Saint John of Nepomuk in the calendar of saints is on March 20th.

In the long-gone days of our grandparents, a central bakehouse was common for the village community. In many places, these were eventually demolished. Here in Bolsdorf, however, it has been preserved and still bears witness to the old days.

"John of Nepomuk or John of Pomuk (Latin: Joannes de Pomuk, Czech: Jan Nepomucký or Jan z Pomuka, * c. 1350 in Pomuk near Pilsen; † March 20, 1393 in Prague) was a Bohemian priest and martyr. He was canonized by Pope Benedict XIII in 1729 and is considered the "bridge saint" and patron of the seal of confession. Along with crosses and depictions of the Virgin Mary, sculptures of Saint Nepomuk are the most commonly found Christian stone figures outside of church buildings in the open countryside in Catholic areas of southern Germany, Bohemia, Moravia, and Austria. Statues of the saint are often found on or next to bridges. The most famous of these, created by Johann Brokoff in 1683, is located on Prague's Charles Bridge at the spot where the saint was thrown into the Vltava River. " https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Johannes_Nepomuk "... John of Nepomuk lived from about 1350 to 1393. He died as punishment by being thrown from the Charles Bridge into the Vltava River and drowned. As a bridge saint, his statue stands on many bridges in Europe. ..." 👉 Life and work of John of Nepomuk and further information: https://www.erzbistum-koeln.de/presse_und_medien/magazin/Johannes-Nepomuk-der-Brueckenheilige

Two aluminum on the traffic island😂

Neublankenheim Castle, located on the edge of the Ahbach Valley, has a varied history spanning over 700 years. First mentioned in 1272, the castle passed into the possession of the Counts of Manderscheid after the Blankenheim family died out. As early as the 16th century, the castle complex began to decay until it was acquired by the Duke of Aremberg in 1769. Today, the ruins, which were extensively renovated in 2005 and 2006 and thus saved from complete decay, belong to the Vulkaneifel district.

This connection between the two sides of the river is passable again. The major storm disaster of June 2021, which, among other things, severely devastated the Ahr Valley (and also cost human lives here), is still visible even after three and a half years.

A real gem awaits hikers and walkers along the Ahr: the chapel dedicated to Saint Hubertus - known above all as the patron saint of hunters - cannot be entered by visitors, but the openings to the right and left of the door, protected by sturdy grilles, offer a glimpse that should not be missed! The central ceiling fresco depicts the Lamb of God from the Apocalypse, lying on the book with the seven seals that John describes in his "Revelation" (the last book of the New Testament).

The building, the "Old Forge", now serves as a village community center and event location. But as the name suggests, the 19th century building was once used to practice a very old craft that was an essential part of any village at the time. As the craft lost more and more importance in the 20th century, the craft was abandoned and the old building became vacant. In the 1980s, the property was purchased by the town of Hillesheim and extensively renovated in 1981. Since then, it has served as the center of the village for the residents of Bolsdorf.