Crime Events Hillesheim 2026 – Gerolsteiner Land

The 2026 Crime Events in Krimiland Hillesheim are a literary-tourism format celebrating Hillesheim's unique position nationwide as the crime capital of the Eifel. A total of 7 event formats are spread across the June to December season, offering locals and tourists alike diverse access to Eifel crime fiction.

The 7 Crime Events 2026 at a Glance

• "Happy Kadaver" on 04.06.2026: Crime reading with musical elements.
• City Tour "Verschwunden in der Krimistadt Hillesheim" (06.06.-12.12.2026): Regular guided tour of locations from Eifel crime novels through Hillesheim. €9 adults.
• Crime Hike "Verbrechen im Grünen" (13.06.-07.11.2026): 6 km hike through the Hillesheim landscape with crime storytelling.
• "Gerolsteiner Krimisteig" (20.06.-05.09.2026): Crime hiking trail in the Gerolsteiner Land region with literary stations.
• "Berndorfs Krimiwelt" on 19.09.2026: Event related to Jacques Berndorf, the founder of Eifel crime fiction.
• "Kerpener Mordsidylle" on 24.10.2026: Special crime event in Kerpen (Eifel), a neighboring municipality of Hillesheim.
• "Blutspur-Krimitag THEATERBLUT" on 07.11.2026: THEATERBLUT day with special effects, productions, and crime experiences.

Krimiland Hillesheim

"Krimiland Hillesheim" is a brand of Touristik Gerolsteiner Land and the town of Hillesheim. In addition to events, it includes the Crime Archive at the EIFELkrimihotel, the Krimiweg (hiking trail), the Crime Library, the Crime Café, and numerous other tourist offerings related to Eifel crime fiction.

Jacques Berndorf and Ralf Kramp

The crime capital Hillesheim owes its reputation to two central authors:

• Jacques Berndorf (Michael Preute, 1936-2022): Founder of "Eifel-Krimi" with over 30 novels centered around reporter Siggi Baumeister.
• Ralf Kramp: Eifel crime author and publisher (KBV Verlag), initiator of many crime activities in Hillesheim and creator of the main character Herbie Feldmann.

City Tour "Verschwunden in der Krimistadt"

The tour "Verschwunden in der Krimistadt Hillesheim" is one of the most popular crime events and takes place regularly from June to December 2026. The approximately 90-minute tour leads to the settings of various Eifel crime novels and conveys Hillesheim's literary significance. Registration via the Hillesheim Tourist Information. Admission: €9 adults.

Crime Hike "Verbrechen im Grünen" and Krimisteig Trail

The 6 km long crime hike "Verbrechen im Grünen" combines outdoor activity in the Eifel nature with literary crime narratives at stations along the path. The "Gerolsteiner Krimisteig" is a slightly longer hiking trail with a similar concept, leading through the Gerolsteiner Land region with its dolomite rocks and Vulkaneifel landscapes.

Prices and Registration

Admission prices range from €9 to €14 depending on the format. Registration via the Hillesheim Tourist Information or directly via the event page of Touristik Gerolsteiner Land. For longer hiking formats, weather-appropriate clothing is recommended.