We spent a few days on vacation in the Eifel region in July and took a day trip to Bad Münstereifel on a Saturday afternoon – a small town that had long been on our bucket list because of its historic old town with its many half-timbered houses. In our travel report we show you the most famous sights and a few beautiful photo spots in the old town 🙂
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Interesting facts about the town of Bad Münstereifel
Bad Münstereifel is a town in southern North Rhine-Westphalia, located in the district of Euskirchen on the edge of the Eifel. With an area of around 150 square kilometers, it is one of the largest cities in the region in terms of area. The town has around 17,000 inhabitants, spread across the historic town center and numerous districts. Bad Münstereifel is particularly well-known for its well-preserved medieval town fortifications and as a state-approved spa with a long spa tradition.
The origins of the town date back to the 9th century, when a ladies’ convent was founded – a development that contributed significantly to its name. Münstereifel was granted town charter in the 12th century and developed into a regional trading center over the centuries. In 1926, the town was awarded the title of “Bad”.
The historic old town of Bad Münstereifel
City map of Bad Münstereifel
The old town of Bad Münstereifel is quite compact, so you can easily explore all the sights on foot in a few hours.
City map of Bad Münstereifel with City Outlets
Our tour through the old town
We parked our car in the Viadukt parking lot (location in Google Maps), from here it is only a few meters to the old town.
The old town of Bad Münstereifel is surrounded by an almost completely preserved medieval town wall with four impressive town gates, 16 fortified towers and two water gates – the Upper and Lower Lap Gates. The fortifications were originally built by the Counts of Jülich when they gained unrestricted rule over the region. The town wall was once surrounded by moats, which also served as fish ponds.
The four city gates each have their own special history and architectural features. The youngest gate, the Werther Tor, was rebuilt in 1416 after a flood and has so-called Jülich shell towers, an advanced fortification technique of the time. It opens up the city to the north, towards Cologne. The Johannistor, which still retains its original height, led eastwards towards the Ahr and is equipped with weir features such as a throwing oriel and abort oriel. The Orchheim Gate to the south, facing Trier, looks very imposing. It was shortened by one storey in the 18th century and features a Baroque archway on the field side in contrast to the Gothic pointed arch on the town side. The Heisterbacher Tor was threatened with demolition in the 19th century, but was saved, given a new roof and in 1984 the overroom for the historic battlements was reconstructed.
We walked into the old town from the north via the Werther Tor and walked around the most important sights in the historic old town.
The Windeckhaus, one of the oldest half-timbered houses in the Rhineland, immediately catches the eye. The Windeckhaus dates back to the early 15th century and impresses with its ornate façade design and well-preserved original substance. It bears witness to the wealth of the merchants of the time and today houses changing exhibitions. The collegiate church of St. Chrysantus and Daria – with its striking twin towers – is the most important sacred building in the city. It was built in the 12th century and houses the relics of the city’s patron saints. The late Romanesque portal and the Gothic windows are particularly worth seeing. The so-called Red Town Hall, a striking red-painted half-timbered building that used to be the seat of the town council, is located directly on the market square. Today it is used for cultural events and is a popular photo motif.
Bad Münstereifel Castle, an impressive hilltop castle from the 13th century that was once the seat of the Counts of Jülich, towers high above the old town. Parts of the complex are now open to the public, and from there you can enjoy a picturesque view of the medieval cityscape. This townscape is strongly characterized by the numerous half-timbered houses that line the narrow streets. Many date from the 16th to 18th centuries and have been lovingly restored. With their carved beams, slate roofs and colorful facades, they tell of the craftsmanship of past centuries and give Bad Münstereifel its unmistakable charm.
Is a visit to Bad Münstereifel worthwhile?
Yes, a visit to Bad Münstereifel is definitely worthwhile, especially if you like historic towns with a special flair. Here you will find a well-preserved old town, a medieval town wall, narrow alleyways, historic buildings and lots of great photo spots. It took us around 3 hours to visit the city on a Saturday afternoon.
We also really liked the idea of the “City Outlet” – shopping in historic half-timbered houses is an experience that can only be found here in Germany.