5 4 3 2
more information, please see table). table). see please information, more forests for rearing its young. In total, approximately 1,000 wildcats live live wildcats 1,000 approximately total, In young. its rearing for forests
ride through expansive landscapes in a horse-drawn carriage (for (for carriage horse-drawn a in landscapes expansive through ride wise benefits from the National Park. It makes use of the continuous continuous the of use makes It Park. National the from benefits wise www.nationalpark-eifel.de www.nationalpark-eifel.de
born Plateau, from April to the end of October it is also possible to to possible also is it October of end the to April from Plateau, born The rare wildcat, almost exterminated during the 19th century, like- century, 19th the during exterminated almost wildcat, rare The For additional information, please see the website: website: the see please information, additional For
ger tour to the deserted village of Wollseifen and back. On the Drei- the On back. and Wollseifen of village deserted the to tour ger
diversity and exceptional scenery. scenery. exceptional and diversity
and the Urftsee reservoir. In addition, every Sunday there is a free ran- free a is there Sunday every addition, In reservoir. Urftsee the and flowers protected by the Park. Park. the by protected flowers develop in the Eifel National Park, which is already fascinating in its its in fascinating already is which Park, National Eifel the in develop Your Eifel National Park Administration Administration Park National Eifel Your
where you can enjoy a unique view of the National Park landscape landscape Park National the of view unique a enjoy can you where St Bernhard’s lily, bog bean and perennial honesty are other valuable valuable other are honesty perennial and bean bog lily, Bernhard’s St natural dominance. In a cycle of growth and decay, a wilderness will will wilderness a decay, and growth of cycle a In dominance. natural
tilingual. You can round out your stay at the attached restaurant, restaurant, attached the at stay your out round can You tilingual. transformed into a sea of yellow blossoms. Green hound’s tongue, tongue, hound’s Green blossoms. yellow of sea a into transformed ger utilise three-quarters of the area. The beech will then regain its its regain then will beech The area. the of three-quarters utilise ger relaxing visit to the Eifel National Park. Park. National Eifel the to visit relaxing
cal diversity and wilderness. The exhibition is fully accessible and mul- and accessible fully is exhibition The wilderness. and diversity cal In the spring the valley meadows in the Wahlerscheid district are are district Wahlerscheid the in meadows valley the spring the In However, from the year 2034 at the latest, human beings will no lon- no will beings human latest, the at 2034 year the from However, We wish you unforgettable impressions, and a memorable and and memorable a and impressions, unforgettable you wish We
www.nationalpark-eifel.de www.nationalpark-eifel.de
ding and reflection, and in an exciting way acquaints you with biologi- with you acquaints way exciting an in and reflection, and ding which occurs in larger numbers here than anywhere else in Germany. Germany. in else anywhere than here numbers larger in occurs which species such as spruce and Douglas fir still cover parts of the Park. Park. the of parts cover still fir Douglas and spruce as such species
[email protected] [email protected]
“Wildnis(t)räume” exhibition interactively stimulates wonder, understan- wonder, stimulates interactively exhibition “Wildnis(t)räume” protecting the area. One example is the wild daffodil or Lent lily, lily, Lent or daffodil wild the is example One area. the protecting This also applies to the Eifel National Park. Non-indigenous tree tree Non-indigenous Park. National Eifel the to applies also This reliable, considerate visitors to their home. home. their to visitors considerate reliable, Telefax +49 (0) 24 44 9510-85 9510-85 44 24 (0) +49 Telefax
Centre interactive exhibition “Wildnis(t)räume”. The 2,000 m² m² 2,000 The “Wildnis(t)räume”. exhibition interactive Centre represented in the Eifel National Park, showing the importance of of importance the showing Park, National Eifel the in represented
visitors depends upon their being able to count on human beings as as beings human on count to able being their upon depends visitors Telefon +49 (0) 24 44 9510-0 9510-0 44 24 (0) +49 Telefon
documentation of the history of the site, and the Eifel National Park Park National Eifel the and site, the of history the of documentation More than 2.200 endangered plant and animal species are are species animal and plant endangered 2.200 than More is to be left to its own devices on at least 75 percent of the area. area. the of percent 75 least at on devices own its to left be to is or not animals such as red deer will allow themselves to be seen by by seen be to themselves allow will deer red as such animals not or 53937 Schleiden-Gemünd Schleiden-Gemünd 53937
Urftseestraße 34 34 Urftseestraße region and can visit two exciting exhibitions: The National Socialist Socialist National The exhibitions: exciting two visit can and region
years at the latest after the inauguration of the National Park, nature nature Park, National the of inauguration the after latest the at years can result in wildlife leaving their hiding places only at night. Whether Whether night. at only places hiding their leaving wildlife in result can
Nationalparkforstamt Eifel Eifel Nationalparkforstamt point of the area, the Forum Vogelsang IP, you can learn about the the about learn can you IP, Vogelsang Forum the area, the of point and lakes. lakes. and should be able to develop to such a state. This means that by 30 30 by that means This state. a such to develop to able be should rules of the National Park. Please keep in mind that any disturbance disturbance any that mind in keep Please Park. National the of rules
Wald und Holz NRW NRW Holz und Wald open-mindedness and a respectful approach to nature. At the focal focal the At nature. to approach respectful a and open-mindedness impressive expanses, fantastic views from forested ridges, river bends bends river ridges, forested from views fantastic expanses, impressive the case of Developing National Parks (Entwicklungs-Nationalparke), (Entwicklungs-Nationalparke), Parks National Developing of case the like to remind you to stay on the official trails and to abide by the the by abide to and trails official the on stay to you remind to like
national meeting place and training centre, which stands for tolerance, tolerance, for stands which centre, training and place meeting national diversity for visitors: Dense forests and wild streams alternate with with alternate streams wild and forests Dense visitors: for diversity For this reason, National Parks should be in a near-natural state or, in in or, state near-natural a in be should Parks National reason, this For hikes, family events, marked routes, visitor centres, etc. We would also also would We etc. centres, visitor routes, marked events, family hikes,
a British and then a Belgian military training area. Today it is an inter- an is it Today area. training military Belgian a then and British a habitat, parts of the grassland will be preserved. This results in great great in results This preserved. be will grassland the of parts habitat,
National Park, and to provide you with information about guided guided about information with you provide to and Park, National
estate in 1934. Following the Second World War, the territory was first first was territory the War, World Second the Following 1934. in estate military training area. However, since open grassland is also a rare rare a also is grassland open since However, area. training military store food. food. store In this brochure, we would like to give you an overview of the Eifel Eifel the of overview an you give to like would we brochure, this In
Here the National Socialists established the “Ordensburg Vogelsang” Vogelsang” “Ordensburg the established Socialists National the Here had not repeatedly intervened, ending by using it as the Vogelsang Vogelsang the as it using by ending intervened, repeatedly not had rotting tree trunks and branches provide places in which to nest or to to or nest to which in places provide branches and trunks tree rotting
Vogelsang International Place is a special site in the National Park: Park: National the in site special a is Place International Vogelsang Dreiborn Plateau in the centre of the National Park if human beings beings human if Park National the of centre the in Plateau Dreiborn plant and animal species rely on old and fallen trees. For example, example, For trees. fallen and old on rely species animal and plant area of 110 square kilometres. kilometres. square 110 of area
“Wildnis(t)räume” (Dreams of the wilderness) – Forum Vogelsang IP Vogelsang Forum – wilderness) the of (Dreams “Wildnis(t)räume” the of kilometres square 33 the characterise also would Forests hundreds of years before dying of natural causes. Many endangered endangered Many causes. natural of dying before years of hundreds network. It is located only one hour from Cologne, and comprises an an comprises and Cologne, from hour one only located is It network.
Eifel National Park Centre – Interactive Exhibition Exhibition Interactive – Centre Park National Eifel Park National developing A – Park National Eifel
one-third of their natural lifespan, trees in National Parks may live live may Parks National in trees lifespan, natural their of one-third Park has filled the western gap in the Germany-wide National Park Park National Germany-wide the in gap western the filled has Park
only reach forests utilised commercially in trees average, on While, the European beech distribution range. Since 2004, the Eifel National National Eifel the 2004, Since range. distribution beech European the
beech forests in the Eifel-Ardennes region. region. Eifel-Ardennes the in forests beech Natural forests are thus being allowed to re-emerge in the centre of of centre the in re-emerge to allowed being thus are forests Natural cavities to stock pigeons, dormice and bats. bats. and dormice pigeons, stock to cavities
extending over 30 square kilometres, has the largest continuous continuous largest the has kilometres, square 30 over extending impact. human direct of absence the in develops nature influenced by an Atlantic climate are protected on a large scale. scale. large a on protected are climate Atlantic an by influenced nesting holes in the trunks of old beech trees, and later abandon the the abandon later and trees, beech old of trunks the in holes nesting
near-natural mixed beech and oak forests. The Kermeter area, area, Kermeter The forests. oak and beech mixed near-natural how experience to visitors enables This areas. wide over processes mixed deciduous forests growing on nutrient-poor soils and and soils nutrient-poor on growing forests deciduous mixed Black woodpeckers, the largest native woodpeckers, excavate their their excavate woodpeckers, native largest the woodpeckers, Black
protection. Above all, however, the National Park protects the the protects Park National the however, all, Above protection. natural protect Parks National nature’, be nature ‘Let motto the with the motto ‘Woods, water, wilderness’. Here, for the first time, time, first the for Here, wilderness’. water, ‘Woods, motto the with red deer, Germany’s largest mammal, are likewise at home here. here. home at likewise are mammal, largest Germany’s deer, red
with ravine and alluvial forests that are particularly deserving of of deserving particularly are that forests alluvial and ravine with with keeping In Europe. Central in everywhere almost predominate The first National Park in North Rhine-Westphalia was established established was Rhine-Westphalia North in Park National first The the black stork and the red-backed shrike. Considerable numbers of of numbers Considerable shrike. red-backed the and stork black the
well-known water reservoirs of the region, but are also associated associated also are but region, the of reservoirs water well-known naturally would they although Germany, of area wooded entire
European honey buzzard, the common kingfisher, red and black kites, kites, black and red kingfisher, common the buzzard, honey European
region. The rivers that carve the plateau not only supply the the supply only not plateau the carve that rivers The region. the of percent 15 around only comprise forests beech Today benefits. We are pleased to welcome you to this unique landscape. landscape. unique this to you welcome to pleased are We National Park also provides a habitat for the Eurasian eagle owl, the the owl, eagle Eurasian the for habitat a provides also Park National
the Eifel National Park in the Northern Eifel (Nördliche Eifel) natural natural Eifel) (Nördliche Eifel Northern the in Park National Eifel the economic perceived with accordance in civilisation human by shaped and expanses of open grassland await you at the Eifel National Park. Park. National Eifel the at you await grassland open of expanses and wall lizard, rare in northern Germany, darts about on sunny rocks. The The rocks. sunny on about darts Germany, northern in rare lizard, wall
The Rur and the Urft are the two rivers that shape the landscape of of landscape the shape that rivers two the are Urft the and Rur The and impacted been has world natural the years, 1.500 past the Over Giant beeches, gnarled oaks, bizarre rock formations, wild streams streams wild formations, rock bizarre oaks, gnarled beeches, Giant Beavers have returned to the streams of the National Park, and the the and Park, National the of streams the to returned have Beavers
Special features of the Eifel National Park National Eifel the of features Special Park? National a of purpose the is What Visitors, Dear
in the Eifel-Ardennes region – the largest population nationwide. nationwide. population largest the – region Eifel-Ardennes the in At a glance a At
What? When? Where?/ Registration What? When? Where?/ Registration
Customised guided tours for groups Eifel National Park Centre Tours with forest guides customised hikes for guests with or without disabilities, accom- throughout the year, upon request starting point by agreement – booking via Interactive exhibition “Wilderness Dreams” Guided discovery tour through the fully daily at 2 p.m., approx. 1.5 hours Eifel National Park Centre, registration not panied by volunteer forest guides of the National Park. A guide can also accompany you the National Park Administration, accessible exhibition: EURO 10.00, reduced EURO 6.00, including admission price required, tickets at the Forum Vogelsang IP on a carriage ride, boat tour, or hike on the Wilderness Trail. Guided tours are available in tel.: +49(0)2444-9510-71; Visitor Centre English, German, French, Dutch and Spanish, for instance, as well as German and Dutch fax: +49(0)2444-9510-85; Offerings for groups and school classes Tour through the discovery exhibition: upon throughout the year, upon request Eifel National Park Centre, booking via tel.: sign language. Compensation due for expenses: EURO 55 for up to three hours, each e-mail: [email protected] request, the tour can be supplemented by a hike with the ranger, nature experience or +49(0)2444-91579-11, fax: +49(0)2444- additional hour EURO 15. (max. 25 persons/group) outdoor games; attractive preschool and school class programmes; children’s birthday 91579-29, e-mail: [email protected], Open guided hikes and tours in German programmes www.nationalparkzentrum-eifel.de Ranger tours and rendezvous hikes guided by rangers on specified routes through throughout the year, upon request various starting points; see map in this Vogelsang IP | International Place Germany’s future ‘jungle’, also suitable for blind and visually impaired guests with an brochure – registration not required. Permanent exhibition “Destiny: Master Race” Open guided tour through the permanent Sat., Sun. and holidays at 11 a.m. and at 2 Forum Vogelsang IP Visitor Centre, regi- accompanying person; those who are hard of hearing can register in advance for a mobi- Information is available from the National exhibition: EURO 12.00, reduced EURO 6.00, including admission price p.m.; approx. 1.5 hours stration not required, tickets at the Forum le amplifier at the National Park Forestry Office – free of charge. Park Administration Vogelsang IP Visitor Centre Wahlerscheid ranger tour also suitable for senior citizens, children and children’s cross- held every Tuesday at 2 p.m. (approx. 3 hours). starting from the Wahlerscheid car park on Historical tours of the area Cost: EURO 8.00 per person, reduced EURO 6.00, children daily at 2 p.m.; Sat., Sun. and holidays Forum Vogelsang IP Visitor Centre, country pushchairs. the B258 between Schleiden and under 13 years old free also at 11 a.m.; approx. 1.5 hours registration not required, tickets at the Monschau, at the ranger hat Forum Vogelsang IP Visitor Centre Mariawald Abbey ranger tour also suitable for children and children’s cross- held every Wednesday at 2 p.m. starting from the Mariawald Abbey car park, Tours for groups In seven languages, upon request. Programmes on special topics throughout the year, upon request Booking via tel.: +49(0)2444-91579-11 country pushchairs. (approx. 3 hours) at the ranger hat possible for school classes and youth groups. fax: +49(0)2444-91579-29 Erkensruhr ranger tour also suitable for children, but not for children’s pushchairs. held every Friday at 11 a.m. (4 to 5 hours) starting from the playground in Erkensruhr, e-mail: [email protected] at the ranger hat www.vogelsang-ip.de Multifaceted nature experiences in the National Park The National Park Monastery Route ranger tour for experienced hikers, 9 km in length, held every Friday at 11.15 a.m. starting from the National Park Gate at the Dark Sky Park Eifel National Park Observing the star-filled night sky, as a unique takes place several times a year; please see Observatory at Vogelsang IP, not suitable for very young children or children’s pushchairs. (approx. 5 hours) Heimbach railway station nature experience activities programme www.sterne-ohne-grenzen.de Do you like hiking, horseback riding, cycling, or cross-country skiing? for everyone Gemünd ranger tour not suitable for very young children or children’s pushchairs. held every Saturday at 11 a.m. starting from the National Park Gate in Nature experience for children and families Of the approximately 240 kilometres of hiking trails, 104 kilometres The Eifel National Park Administration endeavours to organise as many (approx. 3 hours) Gemünd, at the ranger hat also suitable for blind or visually impaired visitors with an accompanying person can be used for cycling and 65 kilometres can also be used as bridle- fully accessible programmes as possible. Guided tours using sign lan- Rurberg ranger tour also suitable for children, but not for children’s pushchairs. held every Saturday at 11 a.m. starting from the National Park Gate in Family days-out Forest adventure days for young and old, focusing on different themes, held on the 1st Sunday of each month at Starting points vary From April to the end of October it is possible to return by boat via the Rursee-Schiff- (4 to 5 hours) Rurberg, at the ranger hat free of charge 11 a.m. (approx. 2.5 hours) (see activities programme) ways. In addition, there are five kilometres of cross-country ski trails. guage and mobile hearing amplifiers, programmes for experiencing fahrt, for which there is a charge during the North Rhine-Westphalia school booking via the National Park Administration, The accompanying table provides an overview of the guided tours. All nature for the blind and visually impaired, and fully accessible exhibiti- Wild Kermeter ranger tour an easy hike, 5 km long, through the fully accessible Wild held every Sunday at 1 p.m. starting from the Kermeter car park holidays, also held at 2 p.m., Tuesday and tel.: +49(0)2444-9510-0; of the schedules can be found in the free activities programme. ons at the National Park Gates and the Eifel National Park Centre are Kermeter area for experiencing nature. It is also suitable for visitors in wheelchairs and (approx. 3 hours) on the L15 (Kermeterhochstraße) between Thursday (approx. 2.5 hours). fax: +49(0)2444-9510-85; those with limited mobility, as well as senior citizens, children and children’s pushchairs. Heimbach-Schwammenauel and Gemünd/ e-mail: [email protected] just the beginning. Wolfgarten, at the ranger hat Family tours with Junior Park Rangers Junior Rangers lead other children and their 2.5 hours, takes place several times a year; booking via the National Park Administration, What do rangers do in the National Park? The fully accessible Wild Kermeter area for experiencing nature and the Vogelsang-Wollseifen Route hike with rangers, 6.5 km with gradients, also suitable for held every Sunday at 1 p.m. starting from Eifel National Park Centre, parents through the National Park please see activities programme tel.: +49(0)2444-9510-0; The National Park experts with their large Mountie hats lead guided Wilder Weg nature discovery path comprise a network with 6.2 kilo- senior citizens, children and children’s cross-country pushchairs. (approx. 3 hours) at the ranger hat fax: +49(0)2444-9510-85; Special ranger theme tours various topics and degrees of difficulty – free of charge held on the 4th Saturday of each month, at various starting points – registration not e-mail: [email protected] tours through the protected area almost every day of the week (see metres of trails for hikers with or without disabilities. Highlights include different times of day; please see activities required. Information is available from the Junior Park Ranger Programme Intensive “getting to know the National Park” programme every 2 weeks, all year round, subject to prior arrangement, registration table for schedules). In addition, the rangers also maintain trails and the Hirschley lookout point with a panoramic view, and ten interactive programme National Park Administration for 7 to 12 year olds, spread over a whole year beginning after the summer holidays form available at www.nationalpark-eifel.de signage, take care of selected habitats, and ensure that all visitors nature experience stations. These provide information about the wil- Hikes with guides using sign language on different routes of varying difficulty, assisted takes place several times a year; please see various starting points – registration not Wilderness camps holiday recreation camps for children and youth aged 7 to 15 held during the summer holidays Heimbach-Düttling Wilderness Outdoor by the institute for the deaf Gehörlosenheim Euskirchen of the Rhineland Regional Council activities programme required. Information is available from the Workshop (Wildniswerkstatt Düttling, WWD) observe the rules. derness, the development of the forest, and the diverse flora and (LVR), also suitable for senior citizens and children – free of charge LVR-Gehörlosenheim Euskirchen, – registration forms are available at: fauna of Eifel National Park. You can also learn how storms affect a tel.: +49(0)2251-650703-38; fax: -39; www.nationalpark-eifel.de or by post from Individual tours with volunteer forest guides forest, test your strength on a climbing route, or find out what it feels e-mail: [email protected] the Eifel National Park Administration Ranger boat tour on the Rur lake, especially suitable for visitors with limited mobility – on the 1st and 3rd Monday of each month Rursee-Schifffahrt, Schwammenauel boat Individual family tours with forest guides Compensation due for expenses: EURO 55 for throughout the year, upon request starting points at the National Park Gates – More than 100 qualified forest guides offer customised group tours like to be a scientist at a research station. there is a charge for the boat tour from April to the end of October, at 2 p.m. landing stage – please register groups at the up to three hours, each another hour EURO 15 (plus one hour of preparation time). Maxi- booking via the National Park Administration, through the National Park. In return for compensation for expenses, they www.nationalpark-eifel.de/barrierefrei from May to August (season), and at 3 p.m. Rursee-Schifffahrt, tel.: +49(0)2446-479; mum 30 people per group. tel.: +49(0)2444-9510-16; will accompany you on family or company outings, carriage rides or in April, September and October (off-sea- fax: +49(0)2446-1267; fax: +49(0)2444-9510-85; son), 1,75 hours e-mail: [email protected] e-mail: [email protected] hikes on the Wilderness Trail - providing their services in different National Park hosts Tours in horse-drawn carriages in wheelchair accessible carriages (with accompanying 1st and 3rd Sunday of each month from stops: Eifel National Park Centre, Walberhof Holiday camps & programmes for school classes and groups of children and youth languages if required. For food, drink and overnight accommodation, we persons) provided by the Steffens stables. Adults: EURO 7.00 (one way) or EURO 10.00 April to the end of October, starting from and Wollseifen – registration not required. for participants with or without disabilities recommend our certified National Park hosts, some (return); children: half price up to the age of 14; families: EURO 25.00 Eifel National Park Centre Information can be obtained from Discovery hikes – Discoveries by the wayside, half-day tours for different age groups – throughout the year, upon request various starting points – booking via the at 11.30 a.m. and 2.15 p.m. Horst Steffens free of charge National Park Administration, Through the heart of nature: The Wilderness Trail of whom have approved fully accessible facilities. tel.: +49(0)177-4478041; tel.: +49(0)2444-9510-16; fax: -85; Would you like to hike through the entire Eifel National Restaurants, hotels, guest houses, vacation rentals, fax: +49(0)2473-9272494; e-mail: [email protected] Park? For this you can use the Wilderness Trail, comprising and caravan and camping sites receive the coveted e-mail: [email protected] Day programmes one-day projects on various topics in the National Park wilderness – throughout the year, upon request various starting points – booking via the Dutch-German family hike free of charge Eifel National Park Administration, four one-day hikes of 18 to 25 kilometres between Höfen and Zerkall. certification by meeting quality and environmental criteria and by Wild animals – Wild herbs – Wild forest Easy to moderately difficult guided hike suitable takes place several times a year; please see Tourist information at Eifeler Tor resort in tel.: +49(0)2444-9510-16; fax: -85; You can book a special package including overnight stays with certi- participating in special training. These hosts can be recognised by the for families, subject to a charge. Adults EURO 6.00, children EURO 4.00, family rate activities programme Schwammenauel – Registration and infor- e-mail: [email protected] fied National Park hosts, or you can organise the hike yourself. With logo ‘Gastgeber Nationalpark Eifel’ (Eifel National Park host). EURO 16.00 mation via tel.: +49(0)2446-80949-39 e-mail: [email protected] the accompanying literature (available only in German), forest guides [email protected], or GPS co-ordinates, and audio and video files from the National Park www.nationalpark-gastgeber.eu website, you have everything you need for a relaxing holiday. You can complement the hike with “lazy days off”, or can book it as educatio- nal leave.
7 8 AeB_E_Sep 2020_NAEI62_AeB06_offen.qxd 15.05.2020 14:38 Seite 2 Seite 14:38 15.05.2020 2020_NAEI62_AeB06_offen.qxd AeB_E_Sep
5 4 3 2
more information, please see table). table). see please information, more forests for rearing its young. In total, approximately 1,000 wildcats live live wildcats 1,000 approximately total, In young. its rearing for forests
ride through expansive landscapes in a horse-drawn carriage (for (for carriage horse-drawn a in landscapes expansive through ride wise benefits from the National Park. It makes use of the continuous continuous the of use makes It Park. National the from benefits wise www.nationalpark-eifel.de www.nationalpark-eifel.de
born Plateau, from April to the end of October it is also possible to to possible also is it October of end the to April from Plateau, born The rare wildcat, almost exterminated during the 19th century, like- century, 19th the during exterminated almost wildcat, rare The For additional information, please see the website: website: the see please information, additional For
ger tour to the deserted village of Wollseifen and back. On the Drei- the On back. and Wollseifen of village deserted the to tour ger
diversity and exceptional scenery. scenery. exceptional and diversity
and the Urftsee reservoir. In addition, every Sunday there is a free ran- free a is there Sunday every addition, In reservoir. Urftsee the and flowers protected by the Park. Park. the by protected flowers develop in the Eifel National Park, which is already fascinating in its its in fascinating already is which Park, National Eifel the in develop Your Eifel National Park Administration Administration Park National Eifel Your
where you can enjoy a unique view of the National Park landscape landscape Park National the of view unique a enjoy can you where St Bernhard’s lily, bog bean and perennial honesty are other valuable valuable other are honesty perennial and bean bog lily, Bernhard’s St natural dominance. In a cycle of growth and decay, a wilderness will will wilderness a decay, and growth of cycle a In dominance. natural
tilingual. You can round out your stay at the attached restaurant, restaurant, attached the at stay your out round can You tilingual. transformed into a sea of yellow blossoms. Green hound’s tongue, tongue, hound’s Green blossoms. yellow of sea a into transformed ger utilise three-quarters of the area. The beech will then regain its its regain then will beech The area. the of three-quarters utilise ger relaxing visit to the Eifel National Park. Park. National Eifel the to visit relaxing
cal diversity and wilderness. The exhibition is fully accessible and mul- and accessible fully is exhibition The wilderness. and diversity cal In the spring the valley meadows in the Wahlerscheid district are are district Wahlerscheid the in meadows valley the spring the In However, from the year 2034 at the latest, human beings will no lon- no will beings human latest, the at 2034 year the from However, We wish you unforgettable impressions, and a memorable and and memorable a and impressions, unforgettable you wish We
www.nationalpark-eifel.de www.nationalpark-eifel.de
ding and reflection, and in an exciting way acquaints you with biologi- with you acquaints way exciting an in and reflection, and ding which occurs in larger numbers here than anywhere else in Germany. Germany. in else anywhere than here numbers larger in occurs which species such as spruce and Douglas fir still cover parts of the Park. Park. the of parts cover still fir Douglas and spruce as such species
[email protected] [email protected]
“Wildnis(t)räume” exhibition interactively stimulates wonder, understan- wonder, stimulates interactively exhibition “Wildnis(t)räume” protecting the area. One example is the wild daffodil or Lent lily, lily, Lent or daffodil wild the is example One area. the protecting This also applies to the Eifel National Park. Non-indigenous tree tree Non-indigenous Park. National Eifel the to applies also This reliable, considerate visitors to their home. home. their to visitors considerate reliable, Telefax +49 (0) 24 44 9510-85 9510-85 44 24 (0) +49 Telefax
Centre interactive exhibition “Wildnis(t)räume”. The 2,000 m² m² 2,000 The “Wildnis(t)räume”. exhibition interactive Centre represented in the Eifel National Park, showing the importance of of importance the showing Park, National Eifel the in represented
visitors depends upon their being able to count on human beings as as beings human on count to able being their upon depends visitors Telefon +49 (0) 24 44 9510-0 9510-0 44 24 (0) +49 Telefon
documentation of the history of the site, and the Eifel National Park Park National Eifel the and site, the of history the of documentation More than 2.200 endangered plant and animal species are are species animal and plant endangered 2.200 than More is to be left to its own devices on at least 75 percent of the area. area. the of percent 75 least at on devices own its to left be to is or not animals such as red deer will allow themselves to be seen by by seen be to themselves allow will deer red as such animals not or 53937 Schleiden-Gemünd Schleiden-Gemünd 53937
Urftseestraße 34 34 Urftseestraße region and can visit two exciting exhibitions: The National Socialist Socialist National The exhibitions: exciting two visit can and region
years at the latest after the inauguration of the National Park, nature nature Park, National the of inauguration the after latest the at years can result in wildlife leaving their hiding places only at night. Whether Whether night. at only places hiding their leaving wildlife in result can
Nationalparkforstamt Eifel Eifel Nationalparkforstamt point of the area, the Forum Vogelsang IP, you can learn about the the about learn can you IP, Vogelsang Forum the area, the of point and lakes. lakes. and should be able to develop to such a state. This means that by 30 30 by that means This state. a such to develop to able be should rules of the National Park. Please keep in mind that any disturbance disturbance any that mind in keep Please Park. National the of rules
Wald und Holz NRW NRW Holz und Wald open-mindedness and a respectful approach to nature. At the focal focal the At nature. to approach respectful a and open-mindedness impressive expanses, fantastic views from forested ridges, river bends bends river ridges, forested from views fantastic expanses, impressive the case of Developing National Parks (Entwicklungs-Nationalparke), (Entwicklungs-Nationalparke), Parks National Developing of case the like to remind you to stay on the official trails and to abide by the the by abide to and trails official the on stay to you remind to like
national meeting place and training centre, which stands for tolerance, tolerance, for stands which centre, training and place meeting national diversity for visitors: Dense forests and wild streams alternate with with alternate streams wild and forests Dense visitors: for diversity For this reason, National Parks should be in a near-natural state or, in in or, state near-natural a in be should Parks National reason, this For hikes, family events, marked routes, visitor centres, etc. We would also also would We etc. centres, visitor routes, marked events, family hikes,
a British and then a Belgian military training area. Today it is an inter- an is it Today area. training military Belgian a then and British a habitat, parts of the grassland will be preserved. This results in great great in results This preserved. be will grassland the of parts habitat,
National Park, and to provide you with information about guided guided about information with you provide to and Park, National
estate in 1934. Following the Second World War, the territory was first first was territory the War, World Second the Following 1934. in estate military training area. However, since open grassland is also a rare rare a also is grassland open since However, area. training military store food. food. store In this brochure, we would like to give you an overview of the Eifel Eifel the of overview an you give to like would we brochure, this In
Here the National Socialists established the “Ordensburg Vogelsang” Vogelsang” “Ordensburg the established Socialists National the Here had not repeatedly intervened, ending by using it as the Vogelsang Vogelsang the as it using by ending intervened, repeatedly not had rotting tree trunks and branches provide places in which to nest or to to or nest to which in places provide branches and trunks tree rotting
Vogelsang International Place is a special site in the National Park: Park: National the in site special a is Place International Vogelsang Dreiborn Plateau in the centre of the National Park if human beings beings human if Park National the of centre the in Plateau Dreiborn plant and animal species rely on old and fallen trees. For example, example, For trees. fallen and old on rely species animal and plant area of 110 square kilometres. kilometres. square 110 of area
“Wildnis(t)räume” (Dreams of the wilderness) – Forum Vogelsang IP Vogelsang Forum – wilderness) the of (Dreams “Wildnis(t)räume” the of kilometres square 33 the characterise also would Forests hundreds of years before dying of natural causes. Many endangered endangered Many causes. natural of dying before years of hundreds network. It is located only one hour from Cologne, and comprises an an comprises and Cologne, from hour one only located is It network.
Eifel National Park Centre – Interactive Exhibition Exhibition Interactive – Centre Park National Eifel Park National developing A – Park National Eifel
one-third of their natural lifespan, trees in National Parks may live live may Parks National in trees lifespan, natural their of one-third Park has filled the western gap in the Germany-wide National Park Park National Germany-wide the in gap western the filled has Park
only reach forests utilised commercially in trees average, on While, the European beech distribution range. Since 2004, the Eifel National National Eifel the 2004, Since range. distribution beech European the
beech forests in the Eifel-Ardennes region. region. Eifel-Ardennes the in forests beech Natural forests are thus being allowed to re-emerge in the centre of of centre the in re-emerge to allowed being thus are forests Natural cavities to stock pigeons, dormice and bats. bats. and dormice pigeons, stock to cavities
extending over 30 square kilometres, has the largest continuous continuous largest the has kilometres, square 30 over extending impact. human direct of absence the in develops nature influenced by an Atlantic climate are protected on a large scale. scale. large a on protected are climate Atlantic an by influenced nesting holes in the trunks of old beech trees, and later abandon the the abandon later and trees, beech old of trunks the in holes nesting
near-natural mixed beech and oak forests. The Kermeter area, area, Kermeter The forests. oak and beech mixed near-natural how experience to visitors enables This areas. wide over processes mixed deciduous forests growing on nutrient-poor soils and and soils nutrient-poor on growing forests deciduous mixed Black woodpeckers, the largest native woodpeckers, excavate their their excavate woodpeckers, native largest the woodpeckers, Black
protection. Above all, however, the National Park protects the the protects Park National the however, all, Above protection. natural protect Parks National nature’, be nature ‘Let motto the with the motto ‘Woods, water, wilderness’. Here, for the first time, time, first the for Here, wilderness’. water, ‘Woods, motto the with red deer, Germany’s largest mammal, are likewise at home here. here. home at likewise are mammal, largest Germany’s deer, red
with ravine and alluvial forests that are particularly deserving of of deserving particularly are that forests alluvial and ravine with with keeping In Europe. Central in everywhere almost predominate The first National Park in North Rhine-Westphalia was established established was Rhine-Westphalia North in Park National first The the black stork and the red-backed shrike. Considerable numbers of of numbers Considerable shrike. red-backed the and stork black the
well-known water reservoirs of the region, but are also associated associated also are but region, the of reservoirs water well-known naturally would they although Germany, of area wooded entire
European honey buzzard, the common kingfisher, red and black kites, kites, black and red kingfisher, common the buzzard, honey European
region. The rivers that carve the plateau not only supply the the supply only not plateau the carve that rivers The region. the of percent 15 around only comprise forests beech Today benefits. We are pleased to welcome you to this unique landscape. landscape. unique this to you welcome to pleased are We National Park also provides a habitat for the Eurasian eagle owl, the the owl, eagle Eurasian the for habitat a provides also Park National
the Eifel National Park in the Northern Eifel (Nördliche Eifel) natural natural Eifel) (Nördliche Eifel Northern the in Park National Eifel the economic perceived with accordance in civilisation human by shaped and expanses of open grassland await you at the Eifel National Park. Park. National Eifel the at you await grassland open of expanses and wall lizard, rare in northern Germany, darts about on sunny rocks. The The rocks. sunny on about darts Germany, northern in rare lizard, wall
The Rur and the Urft are the two rivers that shape the landscape of of landscape the shape that rivers two the are Urft the and Rur The and impacted been has world natural the years, 1.500 past the Over Giant beeches, gnarled oaks, bizarre rock formations, wild streams streams wild formations, rock bizarre oaks, gnarled beeches, Giant Beavers have returned to the streams of the National Park, and the the and Park, National the of streams the to returned have Beavers
Special features of the Eifel National Park National Eifel the of features Special Park? National a of purpose the is What Visitors, Dear
in the Eifel-Ardennes region – the largest population nationwide. nationwide. population largest the – region Eifel-Ardennes the in At a glance a At
What? When? Where?/ Registration What? When? Where?/ Registration
Customised guided tours for groups Eifel National Park Centre Tours with forest guides customised hikes for guests with or without disabilities, accom- throughout the year, upon request starting point by agreement – booking via Interactive exhibition “Wilderness Dreams” Guided discovery tour through the fully daily at 2 p.m., approx. 1.5 hours Eifel National Park Centre, registration not panied by volunteer forest guides of the National Park. A guide can also accompany you the National Park Administration, accessible exhibition: EURO 10.00, reduced EURO 6.00, including admission price required, tickets at the Forum Vogelsang IP on a carriage ride, boat tour, or hike on the Wilderness Trail. Guided tours are available in tel.: +49(0)2444-9510-71; Visitor Centre English, German, French, Dutch and Spanish, for instance, as well as German and Dutch fax: +49(0)2444-9510-85; Offerings for groups and school classes Tour through the discovery exhibition: upon throughout the year, upon request Eifel National Park Centre, booking via tel.: sign language. Compensation due for expenses: EURO 55 for up to three hours, each e-mail: [email protected] request, the tour can be supplemented by a hike with the ranger, nature experience or +49(0)2444-91579-11, fax: +49(0)2444- additional hour EURO 15. (max. 25 persons/group) outdoor games; attractive preschool and school class programmes; children’s birthday 91579-29, e-mail: [email protected], Open guided hikes and tours in German programmes www.nationalparkzentrum-eifel.de Ranger tours and rendezvous hikes guided by rangers on specified routes through throughout the year, upon request various starting points; see map in this Vogelsang IP | International Place Germany’s future ‘jungle’, also suitable for blind and visually impaired guests with an brochure – registration not required. Permanent exhibition “Destiny: Master Race” Open guided tour through the permanent Sat., Sun. and holidays at 11 a.m. and at 2 Forum Vogelsang IP Visitor Centre, regi- accompanying person; those who are hard of hearing can register in advance for a mobi- Information is available from the National exhibition: EURO 12.00, reduced EURO 6.00, including admission price p.m.; approx. 1.5 hours stration not required, tickets at the Forum le amplifier at the National Park Forestry Office – free of charge. Park Administration Vogelsang IP Visitor Centre Wahlerscheid ranger tour also suitable for senior citizens, children and children’s cross- held every Tuesday at 2 p.m. (approx. 3 hours). starting from the Wahlerscheid car park on Historical tours of the area Cost: EURO 8.00 per person, reduced EURO 6.00, children daily at 2 p.m.; Sat., Sun. and holidays Forum Vogelsang IP Visitor Centre, country pushchairs. the B258 between Schleiden and under 13 years old free also at 11 a.m.; approx. 1.5 hours registration not required, tickets at the Monschau, at the ranger hat Forum Vogelsang IP Visitor Centre Mariawald Abbey ranger tour also suitable for children and children’s cross- held every Wednesday at 2 p.m. starting from the Mariawald Abbey car park, Tours for groups In seven languages, upon request. Programmes on special topics throughout the year, upon request Booking via tel.: +49(0)2444-91579-11 country pushchairs. (approx. 3 hours) at the ranger hat possible for school classes and youth groups. fax: +49(0)2444-91579-29 Erkensruhr ranger tour also suitable for children, but not for children’s pushchairs. held every Friday at 11 a.m. (4 to 5 hours) starting from the playground in Erkensruhr, e-mail: [email protected] at the ranger hat www.vogelsang-ip.de Multifaceted nature experiences in the National Park The National Park Monastery Route ranger tour for experienced hikers, 9 km in length, held every Friday at 11.15 a.m. starting from the National Park Gate at the Dark Sky Park Eifel National Park Observing the star-filled night sky, as a unique takes place several times a year; please see Observatory at Vogelsang IP, not suitable for very young children or children’s pushchairs. (approx. 5 hours) Heimbach railway station nature experience activities programme www.sterne-ohne-grenzen.de Do you like hiking, horseback riding, cycling, or cross-country skiing? for everyone Gemünd ranger tour not suitable for very young children or children’s pushchairs. held every Saturday at 11 a.m. starting from the National Park Gate in Nature experience for children and families Of the approximately 240 kilometres of hiking trails, 104 kilometres The Eifel National Park Administration endeavours to organise as many (approx. 3 hours) Gemünd, at the ranger hat also suitable for blind or visually impaired visitors with an accompanying person can be used for cycling and 65 kilometres can also be used as bridle- fully accessible programmes as possible. Guided tours using sign lan- Rurberg ranger tour also suitable for children, but not for children’s pushchairs. held every Saturday at 11 a.m. starting from the National Park Gate in Family days-out Forest adventure days for young and old, focusing on different themes, held on the 1st Sunday of each month at Starting points vary From April to the end of October it is possible to return by boat via the Rursee-Schiff- (4 to 5 hours) Rurberg, at the ranger hat free of charge 11 a.m. (approx. 2.5 hours) (see activities programme) ways. In addition, there are five kilometres of cross-country ski trails. guage and mobile hearing amplifiers, programmes for experiencing fahrt, for which there is a charge during the North Rhine-Westphalia school booking via the National Park Administration, The accompanying table provides an overview of the guided tours. All nature for the blind and visually impaired, and fully accessible exhibiti- Wild Kermeter ranger tour an easy hike, 5 km long, through the fully accessible Wild held every Sunday at 1 p.m. starting from the Kermeter car park holidays, also held at 2 p.m., Tuesday and tel.: +49(0)2444-9510-0; of the schedules can be found in the free activities programme. ons at the National Park Gates and the Eifel National Park Centre are Kermeter area for experiencing nature. It is also suitable for visitors in wheelchairs and (approx. 3 hours) on the L15 (Kermeterhochstraße) between Thursday (approx. 2.5 hours). fax: +49(0)2444-9510-85; those with limited mobility, as well as senior citizens, children and children’s pushchairs. Heimbach-Schwammenauel and Gemünd/ e-mail: [email protected] just the beginning. Wolfgarten, at the ranger hat Family tours with Junior Park Rangers Junior Rangers lead other children and their 2.5 hours, takes place several times a year; booking via the National Park Administration, What do rangers do in the National Park? The fully accessible Wild Kermeter area for experiencing nature and the Vogelsang-Wollseifen Route hike with rangers, 6.5 km with gradients, also suitable for held every Sunday at 1 p.m. starting from Eifel National Park Centre, parents through the National Park please see activities programme tel.: +49(0)2444-9510-0; The National Park experts with their large Mountie hats lead guided Wilder Weg nature discovery path comprise a network with 6.2 kilo- senior citizens, children and children’s cross-country pushchairs. (approx. 3 hours) at the ranger hat fax: +49(0)2444-9510-85; Special ranger theme tours various topics and degrees of difficulty – free of charge held on the 4th Saturday of each month, at various starting points – registration not e-mail: [email protected] tours through the protected area almost every day of the week (see metres of trails for hikers with or without disabilities. Highlights include different times of day; please see activities required. Information is available from the Junior Park Ranger Programme Intensive “getting to know the National Park” programme every 2 weeks, all year round, subject to prior arrangement, registration table for schedules). In addition, the rangers also maintain trails and the Hirschley lookout point with a panoramic view, and ten interactive programme National Park Administration for 7 to 12 year olds, spread over a whole year beginning after the summer holidays form available at www.nationalpark-eifel.de signage, take care of selected habitats, and ensure that all visitors nature experience stations. These provide information about the wil- Hikes with guides using sign language on different routes of varying difficulty, assisted takes place several times a year; please see various starting points – registration not Wilderness camps holiday recreation camps for children and youth aged 7 to 15 held during the summer holidays Heimbach-Düttling Wilderness Outdoor by the institute for the deaf Gehörlosenheim Euskirchen of the Rhineland Regional Council activities programme required. Information is available from the Workshop (Wildniswerkstatt Düttling, WWD) observe the rules. derness, the development of the forest, and the diverse flora and (LVR), also suitable for senior citizens and children – free of charge LVR-Gehörlosenheim Euskirchen, – registration forms are available at: fauna of Eifel National Park. You can also learn how storms affect a tel.: +49(0)2251-650703-38; fax: -39; www.nationalpark-eifel.de or by post from Individual tours with volunteer forest guides forest, test your strength on a climbing route, or find out what it feels e-mail: [email protected] the Eifel National Park Administration Ranger boat tour on the Rur lake, especially suitable for visitors with limited mobility – on the 1st and 3rd Monday of each month Rursee-Schifffahrt, Schwammenauel boat Individual family tours with forest guides Compensation due for expenses: EURO 55 for throughout the year, upon request starting points at the National Park Gates – More than 100 qualified forest guides offer customised group tours like to be a scientist at a research station. there is a charge for the boat tour from April to the end of October, at 2 p.m. landing stage – please register groups at the up to three hours, each another hour EURO 15 (plus one hour of preparation time). Maxi- booking via the National Park Administration, through the National Park. In return for compensation for expenses, they www.nationalpark-eifel.de/barrierefrei from May to August (season), and at 3 p.m. Rursee-Schifffahrt, tel.: +49(0)2446-479; mum 30 people per group. tel.: +49(0)2444-9510-16; will accompany you on family or company outings, carriage rides or in April, September and October (off-sea- fax: +49(0)2446-1267; fax: +49(0)2444-9510-85; son), 1,75 hours e-mail: [email protected] e-mail: [email protected] hikes on the Wilderness Trail - providing their services in different National Park hosts Tours in horse-drawn carriages in wheelchair accessible carriages (with accompanying 1st and 3rd Sunday of each month from stops: Eifel National Park Centre, Walberhof Holiday camps & programmes for school classes and groups of children and youth languages if required. For food, drink and overnight accommodation, we persons) provided by the Steffens stables. Adults: EURO 7.00 (one way) or EURO 10.00 April to the end of October, starting from and Wollseifen – registration not required. for participants with or without disabilities recommend our certified National Park hosts, some (return); children: half price up to the age of 14; families: EURO 25.00 Eifel National Park Centre Information can be obtained from Discovery hikes – Discoveries by the wayside, half-day tours for different age groups – throughout the year, upon request various starting points – booking via the at 11.30 a.m. and 2.15 p.m. Horst Steffens free of charge National Park Administration, Through the heart of nature: The Wilderness Trail of whom have approved fully accessible facilities. tel.: +49(0)177-4478041; tel.: +49(0)2444-9510-16; fax: -85; Would you like to hike through the entire Eifel National Restaurants, hotels, guest houses, vacation rentals, fax: +49(0)2473-9272494; e-mail: [email protected] Park? For this you can use the Wilderness Trail, comprising and caravan and camping sites receive the coveted e-mail: [email protected] Day programmes one-day projects on various topics in the National Park wilderness – throughout the year, upon request various starting points – booking via the Dutch-German family hike free of charge Eifel National Park Administration, four one-day hikes of 18 to 25 kilometres between Höfen and Zerkall. certification by meeting quality and environmental criteria and by Wild animals – Wild herbs – Wild forest Easy to moderately difficult guided hike suitable takes place several times a year; please see Tourist information at Eifeler Tor resort in tel.: +49(0)2444-9510-16; fax: -85; You can book a special package including overnight stays with certi- participating in special training. These hosts can be recognised by the for families, subject to a charge. Adults EURO 6.00, children EURO 4.00, family rate activities programme Schwammenauel – Registration and infor- e-mail: [email protected] fied National Park hosts, or you can organise the hike yourself. With logo ‘Gastgeber Nationalpark Eifel’ (Eifel National Park host). EURO 16.00 mation via tel.: +49(0)2446-80949-39 e-mail: [email protected] the accompanying literature (available only in German), forest guides [email protected], or GPS co-ordinates, and audio and video files from the National Park www.nationalpark-gastgeber.eu website, you have everything you need for a relaxing holiday. You can complement the hike with “lazy days off”, or can book it as educatio- nal leave.
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Other websites of interest to tourists: - www.eifel-expeditionen.eu (information about nature study facilities in the region) - www.nordeifel-tourismus.de (Nordeifel Tourismus GmbH, tel.: +49(0)2441-99457-0; fax: -29) - www.eifel-tipp.de (Monschauer Land-Touristik e.V., tel.: +49(0)2473-9377-0; fax: -20) - www.rureifel-tourismus.de (Rureifel Tourismus e.V., tel.: +49(0)2446-80579-0; fax: -30) - www.vogelsang-ip.de (Vogelsang IP, tel.: +49(0)2444-91579-0; fax: -29) - www.eifel.info (Eifel Tourismus GmbH, tel.: +49(0)6551-9656-0; fax: -96) - www.nrw-tourismus.de/natur (Tourismus NRW e.V.) The following maps and books concerning the National Park have been published: - Trail map, scale: 1:25.000, Eifelverein, ISBN 978-3-944620-02-2, Where to find more information? EURO 10.00 National Park Gates are located at Simmerath-Rurberg, Schleiden- - Hiking book „ThemenTouren“, ISBN 978-3-7616-2068-7, -2644-3 Gemünd, Monschau-Höfen, Heimbach, and Nideggen. These Gates pro- and -2465-4, each EURO 14.95, ISBN 978-3-7616-2300-8 and vide tourist information especially designed for visitors to the National -2301-5, each EURO 6.00 Park, and also host various exhibits: The Rurberg exhibit, entitled - Book nature and culture leaders „Der Nationalpark Eifel - Der Erlebnis- ‘Lebensadern der Natur’ (Lifelines of nature), focuses on bodies of führer für die ganze Region“, ISBN 978-3-943123-04-3, EURO 14,80 water in the Eifel region. The exhibit at the Gemünd Gate highlights - Erlebnis Nationalpark Eifel (Eifel National Park experience) – gnarled oaks, colourful woodpeckers and forest tales. An exhibit at the Illustrated book about Eifel National Park, 196 pages, ISBN 978-3- Heimbach railway station provides information about the natural beech 95540-207-5, EURO 19.95 (published by Regionalia Verlag) forests and wildcats. Here, texts are also presented in German Braille and in high-contrast type, for blind and visually impaired visitors. You Visiting the Eifel National Park by bus or train can experience the exhibits at the last two National Park Gates mentio- Mobility, free of charge, in the National Park region: As overnight guests ned in German, Dutch, French and English, and a floor guidance system at participating accommodation providers, visitors receive guest cards will lead you around them. At the Nideggen Gate, natural treasures are for the duration of their stay. This includes the free use of buses and exhibited, revealing the inventiveness of nature. A floor guidance system, trains in the entire discovery region and beyond, in the area of the VRS audio equipment that can be borrowed, and videos translated into sign Rhine-Sieg transport association (Verkehrsverbund Rhein-Sieg) and the language make the exhibits at the Höfen and Nideggen Gates especially AVV Aachen transport association (Aachener Verkehrsverbund). In additi- suitable for people with disabilities. on to the local public transport ticket, you save money via reduced The National Park Gates are all located at the edge of the large pro- admission at participating facilities, such as the “Wilderness Dreams” tected area. They are free of charge, can be reached without steps, exhibition at the Eifel National Park Centre. If you are coming from the and all have fully accessible sanitary facilities. direction of Cologne, Bonn or Trier, the German Railways (DB – Deut- sche Bahn) will bring you to the Kall railway station, with its National Opening hours: Park information point. The Rurtal railway (Rurtalbahn) brings you from April to October every day: 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., 1:30 p.m. to 5 p.m. Düren (with connections to DB trains from Aachen and Cologne) to the November to March 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., 1:30 p.m. to 4 p.m. National Park Gate at the Heimbach railway station. In addition, buses 24 December and 31 December 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. from Aachen travel directly to Simmerath and Monschau. Several bus Closed on 25 & 26 December and 1 January lines starting from Kall, Heimbach and Simmerath bring you directly to the National Park. At www.nationalpark-eifel.de you Information is available not only at the National Park Gates, but also can find more information about the guest card and at the Forum Vogelsang IP Visitor Centre and the National Park Infor- bus and train connections, as well as service numbers mation Points, which are likewise equipped with films. and the brochure Natur erfahren (Experience nature), updated each spring, with details about buses and Additional information can be found at www.nationalpark-eifel.de trains in and around Eifel National Park. 13 14
Rules of conduct
Please observe the following instructions and restrictions. In doing so, you will be protec- ting some of Germany’s most valuable natural treasures.
Use the paths – please stick Keep quiet. to the marked paths.
Take litter with you – rub- Use a lead – please keep bish does not belong in your dog on a lead. nature.
Leave nature intact – only Only cycle on marked cycle take observations and paths. memories with you.
Tents and staying overnight
Do not smoke or light prohibited – also in mobile
fires. homes. Use marked sites in
the vicinity of the national
Dark Sky Park Eifel National Park park.
With its star-filled night sky, in 2014 Eifel National Park was recogni- sed as the first International Dark Sky Park in Germany. In 2010, Due to the increasing proportion of old trees in the national park, branches and together with the region, astronomer Harald Bardenhagen from Colo- trees may fall more frequently on the paths here than in other forests. During storms, snow and adverse weather conditions in particular, for your own safety gne began preparations to establish a protected area for the night please avoid entering the forest or leave it as quickly as possible. sky: “The Eifel National Park region is one of the few locations in Ger- many where it is possible to see the Milky Way with the naked eye.” Where drought or bark beetles have caused spruce trees to die, entering the Forests particu- larly dangerous. Conspicuous signs point you to such path sections there. You should walk through these areas quickly and not rest there. In addition to providing a nocturnal nature experience, the reduction of light pollution also protects nature and species diversity. Bats, Taking part in events and entering the national park takes place at your own risk.
migrating birds and many other animals benefit from a protected The 33 square kilometre Dreiborn Plateau in the Eifel National Park was actively night sky. The next step is to develop further, from a Dark Sky Park to used as the “Vogelsang Military Training Area” until the end of 2005. Straying from a Dark Sky Reserve. In addition to strict protection of the National the marked paths is prohibited for your own safety, because there is a risk of Park against light pollution, a Reserve also includes a surrounding buf- death due to unexploded ordnance and other devices off the paths. fer zone of some 15 kilometres beyond the Park boundary. Imprint Editor For visitors to experience the night sky, the “Stars without boundaries” Wald und Holz NRW astronomy workshop offers regular events at the observatory site in Nationalparkforstamt Eifel Vogelsang. Urftseestraße 34, 53937 Schleiden-Gemünd Phone +49(0) 2444 9510-0 Fax +49(0) 2444 9510-85 Email [email protected] Additional information about current programmes can be found at: www.nationalpark-eifel.de
V.i.S.d.P. (Person Responsible According to the German Press Law) www.nationalpark-eifel.de/sternenpark Michael Lammertz (in German) Head of Department for Communication and Experiencing Nature
Editor T. Wagner, M. Weisgerber Picture credits Cover: M. Weisgerber; W. Rolfes: 2; D. Ketz: 3/4, 5; M. Weisgerber: 6; M. D. Ketz/Stadt Schleiden: 7; Apart Fotodesign / NeT: 8, 13; M. Kaiser: 15 Layout T. Geschwind – Visual Communication Map Landesvermessungsamt Nordrhein-Westfalen, Bonn 2004 Cartography N. Kolster, A. Koch, T. Wagner Translation Übersetzungsbüro E. John Production Messner Medien GmbH Status May 2020 15