Discover Monschau

Explore the Old Town at your own pace, or choose from different ways to spend your stay, including architectural history, glassblowing and cycling.

Old Town, the Rur and the Red House

To explore Monschau’s Old Town at your own pace, take Circular Route 15. The historic Old Town lies directly on the Rur. The Red House, the half-timbered façades along the Rur and the castle are landmarks of the town of Monschau. Together, they showcase different aspects of the townscape: half-timbered architecture, a castle and a historic residential and commercial building.

The Red House was built in 1760 by textile manufacturer Johann Heinrich Scheibler as a residential and commercial building. Its year of construction, its builder and its original function give the house a clearly defined history. A tour takes you through the Red House’s 13 fully furnished rooms. Visitors can focus on both the building’s history and the design of its interiors; the route through the Old Town offers a different perspective from a closer look at a single building.

Glassblowing and cycling

At the Monschau Glassworks, visitors can watch glassblowers shape vessels or glass figures from a glowing mass. The focus here is on a craft process and on how different forms are created from the hot material. This offers a contrast with the historic architecture and furnished rooms of the Red House.

Cycling is another option: the “Monschauer-Land-Route” cycle tour passes through the cloth-making town of Monschau. You can consider this route as a separate activity when planning your trip, alongside exploring the Old Town. The two options offer different experiences, and there is no set order in which to enjoy them.

The Aachen City Region as a regional setting

The Aachen City Region is located in the tri-border area, close to the Netherlands and Belgium, in Germany’s far west. It brings together a range of natural landscapes, historic town centres and an extensive cycling and hiking network. This wider setting may be of interest if you would like to combine Monschau with regional cultural or nature-related experiences.

The city of Aachen is also among the Aachen City Region’s historic highlights. Its Old Town, with its narrow lanes and historic squares, invites you to explore Aachen’s nearly 2,000-year history. At Aachen Cathedral, Charlemagne’s Palatine Chapel forms the core. The cathedral has retained its role as a church and as the most important pilgrimage site north of the Alps.

The Aachen City Region also offers cyclists seven mapped gravel bike routes ranging from 26 to over 40 kilometres, suitable for a relaxed or sporty ride. The routes are not signposted. Navigate using GPX tracks or the tour apps from StädteRegion Aachen, Outdooractive or Komoot. Check the current route selection and available digital navigation options before planning your trip.

For a seasonal nature experience, head to Monschau-Höfen: in April, millions of wild daffodils turn the meadows in the Perlenbach and Fuhrtsbach valleys into a sea of yellow blooms. At this time of year, you can go hiking there with a guide or on your own. Check the conditions and guided tour dates before your trip.

Discover more destinations: Kalterherberg, Mützenich, Rohren, Konzen, Höfen, Baesweiler, Herzogenrath, Erkensruhr.

For the main travel overview: Aachen.