Rheinbach: City Forest, Roman Aqueduct and Culture

Rheinbach combines cycling and hiking trails with Roman history, historic buildings and recurring cultural events. When planning your stay, it is worth considering the different highlights: some shape the cityscape, while others are tied to dates and changing programs.

Cycling, Forest and Trails

Two differently described routes are in the spotlight for cycling tours in Rheinbach. A 25-kilometer secondary loop of the 124-kilometer Rhineland Apple Route runs through the city. The Mittelland Route, a D-Route in Germany’s long-distance cycle route network, also passes through parts of Rheinbach and continues southeast: first to Meckenheim, then to Bonn. While the Apple Route here is a loop with a specified length, the Mittelland Route is characterized by its onward direction. Check the current signage on site.

Rheinbach City Forest is considered a popular local recreation destination. Its network of trails includes main paths, smaller hiking trails and bridleways. This describes different types of routes without specifying a particular distance or walking time. You can reach the Rheinbach Forest Chapel by car, bicycle or on foot via hiking trails in the City Forest. Parking is available at the hiking trail car park. As conditions on the trails can change, it is advisable to check the situation on site.

Roman Traces and Historic Buildings

The free Roman Aqueduct Information Center is located in the heart of Rheinbach, roughly halfway along the Roman Aqueduct Hiking Trail. Exhibits include an almost six-meter-long chorobate and an authentic section of the Roman water pipeline. The center is also a starting point for hikes, walks and cycling tours—including routes away from the Roman Aqueduct. This brings together a specific connection to the Roman water pipeline and various tour options in one place.

Himmeroder Hof is a Franconian farm complex on Himmeroder Wall, very close to Rheinbach Castle. The parts that have survived to this day date from the first half of the 18th century. Today, only the Witches’ Tower remains of Rheinbach Castle; the tower can be visited. Another historic site is the ruins of Tomburg in the Rheinbach district of Wormersdorf. They are situated on a 316-meter-high basalt cone.

Castle and city tours are offered in Rheinbach year-round. If you would like to plan a tour, check the current booking arrangements. Night watchman tours take place several times a year; their dates may change. The program at Rheinbach City Theatre includes comedies, farces and dramas, with individual performances changing over time.

Events and Leisure

Rheinbach Summer Cinema is an annual open-air event where local residents and visitors watch films together. The “Rheinbach Classics” brings the 1950s and 1960s back to life around mid-July each year; highlights include a vintage car show known throughout the state. “Kultur im Hof” has been an open-air festival on Himmeroder Wall for several years, right in front of the Himmeroder Hof Cultural Center, and is regarded as a summer cultural highlight. Dates and programs for recurring events may change. If an event is the reason for your trip, check the latest date and program in advance.

Rheinbach Leisure Park offers sports, fun and relaxation for all ages across more than 15 hectares. The facilities mentioned include a water play street, a climbing locomotive, a play and toboggan hill, and large playgrounds. Individual facilities may be affected by maintenance; check their current status before your visit. Together with the City Forest, cycling routes and cultural attractions, this provides a range of different themes for your stay without prescribing a particular itinerary.

Discover more destinations: Hilberath, Bad Honnef on the Rhine, Windeck, Lohmar, Much, Adendorf, Neunkirchen-Seelscheid, Niederkassel.

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