It is an ideal starting point to get to know lots of attractions.
Despite of a certainly existing local patriotism we like to say that the vicinity of the Rur-Eifel region might also be worth seeing. A glimpse on the map will show you the places to be discovered. In Aachen the Carolus Therm, the amusement park Phantasialand in Brühl, the Wolf park in Gerolstein, where also eagle owls live, the open-air museum or the animal park in Kommern, the Red House in Monschau and the forest experience centre in Gemünd. This is only a small selection of the many opportunities offered. You can reach all these attractions within one hour by car or even by public transportation.
Map of the vicinity:
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 "Popup Zoom: Aachen Cathedral")
Aachen is an urban district and spa in the administrative district of Cologne and the German federal state North-Rhine Westphalia and one of the key cities of the region.
Aachen is located directly in the "Euregio" Maas-Rhine in the border triangle of Germany-Belgium-The Netherlands and close to the Eifel national park.
The population figure of the city exceeded the 100,000 limit around the year 1890, which made Aachen a large city.
Interesting links on Aachen:
 "Popup Zoom: City of Düren")
Düren is a district town in North-Rhine Westphalia between Aachen and Cologne with a population of more than 90,000. Düren is the administrative centre of the district of Düren. The River Rur flows through the city district of Düren.
Due to the location at the edge of the northern Eifel, both the Eifel national park and major cities as Aachen, Düsseldorf and Cologne can quickly be reached.
Interesting links on Düren:
 "Popup Zoom: Jülich from the air")
Jülich is a medium-sized district town in the district of Düren, North-Rhine Westphalia, Germany.
Interesting links on Jülich:
 "Popup Zoom: Red House in Monschau")
Monschau is a town in the Eifel region. It is located in the federal state North-Rhine Westphalia, Germany and belongs to the district of Aachen. The town is situated between the mountain sides of the mature park High Venn - Eifel, to be exact: the Rur-Eifel region, which is called after the name of the small river Rur, also crossing Monschau itself in a deep brick bordering of the rever bed. Particularly the "Red House" is worth seeing. It is the former headquarters of the textile industry family Scheibler (see Łódź Carl Wilhelm Scheibler).
Interesting links on Monschau:
 "Popup Zoom: A stork on a house roof in Kommern")
Kommern is located in the Eifel region and is a district of the town Mechernich (district of Euskirchen) with a population of ca. 4,000. The town is known for its closed ensemble of half-timbered houses in the historic town centre. Also the Rhenish open-air museum and the deer park are attractive places of interest. Kommern was an important centre of lead and silver mining for centuries. This had been administrated from the castle of Kommern, the domicile of the dukes of Arenberg, today still worthwhile seeing.
Interesting links on Kommern:
 "Popup Zoom: Well in Simmerath")
Simmerath is a community in North-Rhine Westphalia and belongs to the district of Aachen.
The community arms represents a blue S on a golden ground. The S stands for the community of Simmerath, emerging after the municipal reform in 1972 and its location at two lakes. The golden base of the coat of arms shall refer to the former affiliation to the state authority Jülich.
Still thera are easily recogniseable parts of the western wall as registered landmark, which are made accessible by a hiking trail. Another point of interest is Lake Rursee. The community is part of the Eifel national park since 2004.
Interesting links on Simmerath:
 "Popup Zoom: City of Gerolstein")
Gerolstein at River Kyll is a town in the Eifel region and is located in the administrative district of Daun in Rhineland-Palatinate. Together with its suburbs it has a population of ca. 8,400 (issued 01/2006). A big beverage company has its headquarters in the town (Gerolsteiner Brunnen). Gerolstein is situated picturesquely in a valley full of geological surprises. Apart from the volcanic origins, you can also find fossils of any kind here. Gerolstein is a climatic spa.
Interesting links on Gerolstein:
 "Popup Zoom: Gate in Blankenheim")
Blankenheim is a community in North-Rhine Westphalia (Germany) in the district of Euskirchen.
Interesting links on Blankenheim:
 "Popup Zoom: The High Venn")
The High Venn as low mountain range and landscape is geologically part of the slate mountains to the left of the Rhine.
It is defined differently, whether it is deemed to be a mountain range of its own in the scope of these slate mountains to the left of the Rhine or is a local part of the mountains east of the Eifel (normally belonging to the overall geographic region of the Eifel). The High Venn extends between Germany and Belgium, has a size of ca. 11,120 acres and belongs to the nature park High Venn-Eifel. Large areas are formed as upland moor, thus derives the name Venn for moor (Dutch: Veen). The Ardennes Mountains are seamlessly attached in the west.
Interesting links on Hohes Venn:
 "Popup Zoom: Temple ruins in Nettersheim")
Nettersheim is a community in the district of Euskirchen in the south-west of the federal state North-Rhine Westphalia.
Interesting links on Nettersheim:
