The Eifel National Park protects a valuable Buchwald area in the North Rhine-Westphalian region Eifel. It is also part of the cross-border High Fens-Eifel nature park.
background
history
The deciduous forest in the Eifel was almost completely cleared by 1800 (mostly fell victim to charcoal burning). Under Prussian rule, spruce and other conifers were reforested in the 19th and 20th centuries. The forest was again damaged by the effects of war at the end of World War II. Only in the post-war period were mainly hardwoods replanted.
The national park was established at the beginning of 2004. In 2006 the former military training area at the Dreiborn plateau was added. The ownership structure continues to play a role: the majority is managed by the North Rhine-Westphalian state forest and forest company, while the former military training area remained federal forest.
landscape
- Hetzinger Forest, in the north
- Kermeter
- Dreiborn plateau
- Rursee with Urftsee
Flora and fauna
- Beech forests
- Oak-beech forests and other deciduous forests
- Coniferous forest stands are to be pushed back
- Red deer, mouflon, wild cat, eagle owl, black stork, middle woodpecker
climate
getting there
bus and train
The National Park Heimbach can be reached via Düren (connection from Aachen and Cologne) with the regional train "RB 21" / Rurtalbahn.
From Aachen
Bus line "SB 63" (destination Simmerath or Vogelsang) from Aachen main station to Einruhr, Vogelsang and Gemünd (If necessary, change in Simmerath to bus line 63 in the direction of Vogelsang). Between May and October you can take bicycles with you in a trailer on Sundays.
from Cologne
Regional express "RE 22" from Cologne main station (Departure there at xx: 9 p.m.) to Kall, then bus line "SB 82" to Gemünd and Vogelsang.
by car
to AS Düren (7), then signs first direction Düren and then direction Nideggen (via Niederau & Kreuzau) follow (via Landstrasse also further on Heimbach)
From Aachen
until behind Roetgen, then 
to Lammersdorf, then 
to Einruhr, Vogelsang or Gemünd.
from Cologne
- either
to AS Wißkirchen (111), then 
to Gemünd, Vogelsang or Einruhr - or
to Gemünd.
fees
- The area is freely accessible.
- Large parts of the former military training area may not be entered for safety reasons (old ammunition).
mobility
Few state and federal roads cross the national park. Well-frequented bus stops and larger parking lots are mostly outside and on the edge. In the national park itself, the best way to move around is on foot. The bicycle can also be an alternative.
Public transport
The quality of public transport within and on the edge of the national park is very different. The north in the Düren district is easily accessible by the Rurtalbahn. 1 Heimbach station
and 2 Zerkall stop are on the edge of the national park, each have an information point and are approached every hour. From Heimbach, among other things, the bus shoots Mäxchen in the season the Mariawald monastery and the Kermeter.
The place is in the south of the national park in the district of Euskirchen Kall well connected by train. 3 Kall station
Buses run every hour to, among other places, Gemünd, Morsbach and zum Eifel National Park Center.
The places in the national park in the Aachen city region are difficult to reach by public transport. To Monschau and Simmerath It's still easy to get to by bus from Aachen, after which the offer is very thin, especially on weekends. Places like Einruhr, Rurberg and Erkensruhr are only connected via individual trips on Saturdays and Sundays. Here you have to plan well how to get back.
Rates
Part of the national park is part of the Rhein-Sieg transport association (Euskirchen district) and the other part of the Aachen transport association (Aachen city region and Düren district). For trips within the AVV or VRS area, the ticket offers of the respective transport association apply. In principle, the VRS tariff applies to journeys beyond the network. In the entire national park and beyond, for example, the Euregio ticket is valid for 19 € for one day with which a second adult and up to three children can be taken on weekends and public holidays. Many overnight accommodations give their guests the guest card, with which they can use public transport free of charge.
Tourist Attractions
activities
- Hiking, for example on the Wilderness trailwhich is 85 km from Monschau to Huertgenwald leads.
- Cycle touring only on approved cycle paths; not all of these paths are unreservedly recommended (possibly only for MTB). There are also cycle paths on the edge of and outside the national park.
shop
kitchen
accommodation
Guest beds can be found in the neighboring communities at the park:
- Schleiden
- Heimbach
- Simmerath
- Monschau
- Nideggen
- Mechernich
- Hellenthal
- Huertgenwald and Eupen border on the national park, but have no area share.
security
The signs and barriers with regard to the military training area must be strictly observed. The terrain is still with Glass mines contaminated from the 2nd World War.
Practical advice
There are various contact points around the national park that provide visitors with information. The most important is the National Park Center.
- 1 Eifel National Park Center. Tel.: 49 (0)2444 91 57 40, Email: [email protected].
.
National park gates
The national park gates are information houses that contain tourist information and various exhibitions on topics related to the Eifel National Park. They have uniform opening times:
April 1st to October 31st from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. and 1:30 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.
November 1 - March 31, 10:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. and 1:30 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.
- 2 Rurberg National Park Gate. Tel.: 49 (0)2473 937 70..Exhibition: “Nature's Lifelines”.Open: daily 9:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m., 1:30 p.m. - 5:00 p.m. (April 1 - Oct 31), 10:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m., 1:30 p.m. - 4:00 p.m. (Nov. 1) -31. Mar.).
- 3 Gemünd National Park Gate. Exhibition: "Gnarled oaks, colorful woodpeckers and exciting forest stories".
- 4 Heimbach National Park Gate. Exhibition: "Forest Secrets".
- 5 National park gate courtyards. Exhibition: “Daffodil Rush and Forest Walk”. The narcissus meadows are located in the Perlenbachtal near Monschau-Höfen. The flowering time is around the beginning of May.
- 6 Nideggen National Park Gate. .Exhibition: "Treasury of Nature".
National park information points
National park information points are smaller contact points than the national park gates without an exhibition, but they also offer a wide range of information. The opening times are different.
- 7 National Park Info Point Bad Münstereifel. Open: Monday to Friday: 10 a.m. to 2.30 p.m.
- 8 National Park Info Point Einruhr. Open: April to October: 9 a.m. - 1 p.m. and 1.30 p.m. - 5 p.m. November to March: 10 a.m. - 1 p.m. and 1.30 p.m. - 4 p.m.
- 9 Schwammenauel National Park Info Point (Landal-Resort Eifeler Tor).
- 10 Hellenthal National Park Information Point (Town hall). Open: April to November: Monday to Friday 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and 1:30 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. May to October: Monday to Friday 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and 1:30 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. All Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays: tour 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.
- 11 Zerkall National Park Information Point. Open: Main season (start of the Easter holidays until October): Wednesday to Sunday: 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Monday and Tuesday: 1:30 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. NRW school holidays: daily 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Low season ( November to the beginning of the Easter holidays): Sunday: 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
- 12 National park information point in Kall (railway station). Open: Monday to Friday: 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday: 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
- 13 Kommern National Park Info Point ("Waldhaus" in the open-air museum). Open: April 1 to October 31: 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. November 1 to March 31: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
- 14 Marmagen National Park information point (Eifelhöhenklinik). Open: Monday to Friday: 6:30 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Saturday: 8:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. and 1:30 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. Sunday and public holidays: 9:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. and 1:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.
- 15 Mechernich National Park Information Point (Mechernich Mining Museum). Open: Tuesday to Saturday: 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday: 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
- 16 National park information point Monschau. Open: daily 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on the 24th and 31st. December from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
- 17 National park information point Nettersheim. Open: Monday to Friday: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, Sunday and public holidays: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
- 18 National Park Info Point Roetgen. Open: Summer time (April 1st to October 31st) 10:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m. Winter time (November 1st to March 31st) 10:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
- 19 Schleiden National Park Information Point. Open: Tuesday to Friday: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday: 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
- 20 National Park Info Point Schmidt (Parish Church of St. Hubertus). Open: April to October: 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. November to March: 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
trips
1 LVR open-air museum in Kommern
(Line 894, on-demand bus! Call one hour before departure!) From Mechernich train station to the open-air museum. Tel. 02443/10 00. Alternative: From Mechernich with bus 808 (direction Euskirchen). Exit in Kommern-Mitte. Walk to the museum about 25 minutes.). Tel.: 49(0)2443 99800. 
Open: March 30th to October 31st: daily 9 am-7pm. November to March 31: daily 10 am-5pm.Price: Free admission for children under 18 years of age, otherwise € 6.50, parking fee € 2.50 (2014).
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literature
Web links
- https://www.nationalpark-eifel.de/de/ - Official website of the Eifel National Park
