| Sights
Monschau offers nature and culture - and lots of both. Below you can
search for information about the main tourist attractions of Monschau
and its surrounding region.
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Half-timbered buildings and Venn-style farmhouses |
The fairy-tale houses of our childhood imagination come alive in these Venn and Eifel-style farmhouses. Especially in our modern world of concrete, steel and glass buildings, their architecture exerts a quaint and homey appeal. Historically, these farmhouses were effectively purpose-designed structures. Each house stood at right angles to the main wind direction and the weather side. The roof was drawn down deeply along this side, with hedges planted in front. The width and height of the hedge matched that of the building. The interior of each house was divided into several areas: viewed from the weather side, the barn came first, followed by the stables and the living quarters with its fireplace and chimney. Thus, the entrance to the house and the stable and barn doors were always protected from the wind and the weather. We recommend that you simply enjoy the pleasant sight of these listed buildings.
Many of these typical Venn-style and Eifel houses can still be seen in the regions around Monschau, Roetgen and Simmerrath.
Location: Monschau
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Eifel Cathedral |
The village of Kalterherberg, situated directly near the German/Belgian border, is noted for its twin-towered parish church which is often referred to as the "Eifel Cathedral".
Location: Monschau-Kalterherberg
 Touristik@Monschau.de
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Thanksgiving |
Each year on the first weekend in October, a great Thanksgiving parade is held at Mützenich. It is the traditional way of expressing gratitude for a good crop at the close of the summer harvesting season. The entire village is up and about for this event. Many clubs, associations, private individuals and groups contribute the themed floats, which take weeks to build and prepare.
Year after year, this unique pageant in our region attracts thousands of visitors to the village. By popular custom, gifts from the floats are handed down to the spectators. The festival has become a well-known attraction by now, drawing crowds from far beyond our regional boundaries.
The parade itself takes about 2.5 hours. Once it has assembled, the floats proceed from Gustengasse towards Eupener Strasse. Near the Close bakery shop the parade turns into Unterer Strehling, then goes on towards Schiffenborn. From here it follows Eupener Strasse before it disbands on Ringstrasse.
After the parade, all participants and spectactors are invided to the festival tent on the village square for a worthy finish of the festivities.
Location: Monschau-Mützenich
www.muetzenich.net
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Hedges - a landscape feature |
What would you do if your house were ravaged by the winds and the weather? The people of Monschau and its surrounding regions had an ingenuously simple, simply ingenious idea. Hedges would do the trick! Hedges offer ideal protection from the elements, provided that they are wide and high enough to shield an entire house. And the hedges you'll find in Monschau, Roetgen and Simmerath certainly are. They are enormous beechwood thickets, planted by our forebears generations to protect their dwellings. Some hedges have entrances, windows and curved gates. One is prettier than the next, and all are lovingly looked after - indeed, tending to these hedges has long become a high and holy duty for their owners. They have thus evolved into a very special landmark of our region, and are definitely worth viewing.
Sounds interesting? Detailed tour suggestions, complete with itineraries taking you past the prettiest hedges, half-timbered houses and Venn-style farmhouses are available.
Another type of hedges cutting through the landscape around towns and villages are the so-called cattle hedges. Lining the pastures in place of barbed wire, they provide ideal protection to the animals when Eifel storms rage over the plains.
Location: Monschau
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"Uraalt Scholl" Museum of Local History and Culture |
The former schoolhouse today accommodates the "Uraalt Scholl" (ancient school) museum of local history and culture. Here the local preservation society of Mützenich has created a nostalgic environment which allows the visitor to immerse himself into the village life of bygone days. Authentic rooms full of period furniture, stuffed animals and a wide array of old agricultural implements can be viewed by appointment.
Location: Monschau-Mützenich
Heimatverein Mützenich
Ringstraße 4
52156 Monschau-Mützenich
Phone: 02472/3323
Opening hours: By appointment only. Thanksgiving and All Saints' Day: 2:00 - 6:00 p.m.
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Further pages |
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