Discover Alfter: History, Culture and Landscape

Alfter combines historic town centers, culture and a varied landscape. Gielsdorf is associated with its former winegrowing, while Witterschlick is associated with clay mining and its railway station; in the town of Alfter, the Cultural Discovery Trail brings together modern and historic buildings, monuments and sculptures. These distinct themes provide different ways to explore the destination.

Gielsdorf: Winegrowing and Half-Timbered Houses

Until the late 19th century, Gielsdorf was a thriving winegrowing village. Attractions in the district include the Gielsdorf Water Tower, Auf der Heide and St. James’ Parish Church. Another highlight is the old town center, with half-timbered houses, for example on Blechgasse, Kirchgasse and Prinzgasse. The area’s former winegrowing heritage and the specific buildings and streets of the town center offer distinct points of historical interest.

Culture in the Town of Alfter

The Alfter Cultural Discovery Trail runs through the heart of the town. Modern and historic buildings, old wayside crosses, monuments and contemporary sculptures created by students at Alanus University are clustered close together. The trail thus brings together architectural and artistic features in the townscape. The Alfter History House offers a different perspective: the museum features exhibits and everyday objects from more than 2,000 years of regional history. While the trail brings together different features of the townscape, the museum focuses on regional history through objects.

Clay Mining and Witterschlick Railway Station

Clay mining in Witterschlick and Volmershoven dates back to 1880. In Witterschlick, the railway station is another point of reference: it is an S-Bahn stop on the Bonn–Euskirchen railway line. The station houses a privately run signal box museum. The signal systems are fully functional and connected to a model railway. Tours for visitors take place on Open Monument Day; groups can book tours on request. The former goods shed at the station is now used for cultural events and private celebrations. The station therefore brings together a technical exhibition and the former shed’s present-day use.

Landscape and Specialties

In Alfter, historic town centers alternate with diverse vegetable fields and the extensive forests of the Kottenforst. The Kottenforst nature reserve lies west of Impekoven. Local specialties in Alfter include asparagus and Rebellenblut, a blackberry wine. The landscape and local specialties add further dimensions to the destination’s historical and cultural offerings.

Alfter in the Rhein-Sieg District

The wider Rhein-Sieg District destination includes four tourist regions: the Siebengebirge, the Siegtal, the Bergisches Land and the Rhein-Voreifel region. One specific route that includes Alfter is the 124-kilometer Apple Route. It also passes through Bornheim, Swisttal, Rheinbach, Meckenheim and Wachtberg, and can be explored further via six loop trails. The regions provide a broad tourism context; Alfter itself is one of the towns named along the Apple Route.

Discover more destinations: Neunkirchen-Seelscheid, Sankt Augustin, Königswinter, Swisttal, Hennef, Siegburg, Much, Meckenheim

Back to the main travel overview: Rhein-Sieg District.