The best hikes from bus stations around Meckenheim

<< History of Münchhausen Castle >> "In Wachtberg in North Rhine-Westphalia, Münchhausen Castle is the oldest castle in the municipality, still intact, although the moats that once existed are no longer there. It has a long history, having been first documented in 893. Remarkable: The building fabric comes from the tuff stones that the Romans once used to build aqueducts to supply the city of Cologne. It was initially owned by the Imperial Monastery of Prüm. Afterwards, Münchhausen Castle belonged to the Counts of Are-Hochstaden, and then to the Electorate of Cologne. For a long time, the castle housed a customs post that monitored the coronation route from Frankfurt am Main to Aachen, but it was also used as a stronghold for a time. From 1525 onwards, it became the property of the noble von der Leyen family. Today, Münchhausen Castle houses a riding stable. find..." SOURCE / FURTHER INFORMATION: https://burgen-und-schloesser.net/nordrhein-westfalen/burg-muenchhausen/geschichte.html

From and around the Tomburg: a magnificent view of a diverse settlement, culture, and landscape area, from the Ville and Börden landscape in the west, across the 'Middle Rhine Gate', where the Rhine Valley widens, to the Siebengebirge on the horizon, and further into the Wachtberg region with Landskron Castle in the south. 😎👌

Binoculars would be great.

The structure of the small sacred monument that the hiker/walker passes here not far from the moated castle of Adendorf has the usual structure for processional crosses: a multi-tiered base, in this case also with a dedicatory inscription, a niche in the middle section and the actual cross rising above it. Anyone who would like to linger at this point for a moment is also offered a place to sit.

Sit comfortably and enjoy the wonderful view.

This striking tree is a feast for the eyes

Beautiful ruin and great view

"The stream originates as the Gräbbach on the eastern outskirts of Todenfeld in the Voreifel region at an elevation of 357 m above sea level. From here, it flows predominantly northward. Shortly below the parking lot at the forest chapel, the stream divides into an eastern branch (Eulenbach) and a western branch (Gräbbach). The Cistercian monks of Himmerod probably had the branch dug in the 13th century to power mills with this water. After crossing the Rheinbach urban area, the two stream branches merge again in the northeastern section of the bypass road (Bundesstraße 266). From here, the stream is called Eulenbach. Before this, the western branch (Gräbbach) takes in the Stiefelsbach, which also flows northward, on the left bank of the city park on the southern outskirts of Rheinbach. After crossing under the Bundesstraße 266 and the Bundesautobahn 61, the stream flows The Eulenbach continues north and passes Ramershoven. A few hundred meters before its own confluence, the Eulenbach joins the Hochbach. The stream then flows into the Swist on the left bank at the southern edge of Morenhoven at 146 m above sea level. Before its confluence, the Eulenbach used to flow parallel to the Swist for about a kilometer further west, flowing only shortly before the Wallbach. The original course can be traced along the largely still existing streambed. As part of the implementation of the EU Water Framework Directive, numerous measures are to be taken with the aim of achieving a more natural design and natural development, especially along its course north of Rheinbach. South of Rheinbach, above and below the Waldkapelle (forest chapel), the stream feeds several ponds, such as the Alten Weiher (Old Ponds) and the Pilgerpfadsweiher (pilgrim's path ponds), which are of great importance for local recreation. However, the latter have been in poor condition for some time. This is due not only to dilapidated dams but also, above all, to the droughts of recent years and their associated droughts. Water shortages, silting, and silting up. However, remediation is proving difficult because, in addition to the remediation costs, the special protection status of the Rheinbach municipal forest as a Natura 2000 area under the European Fauna-Flora-Habitat (FFH) Directive must be taken into account. https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eulenbach_(Swist)