A perfect day trip to beautiful Monschau
Updated: May 12
If asked to describe Western Europe, pretty much most of Western Europe can be summed into picturesque city centers, narrow cobbled stone streets, pretty boutique stores doting those streets, charming restaurants by peaceful canals and so on and so forth. However, what makes each city/town/village stand out is one or more of their characteristic features, which might be unique only to their history, culture, and heritage.
Having mentioned that, I want to ask you if you’ve heard of Half-Timbered Houses? Half-timbered houses are constructions often linked with traditional architecture and can be found in historic towns and villages. The have a wooden frame with spaces between the timbers filled with either brick or plaster or wooden strips are filled with clay and sand. The wooden frame is often noticeable on the facade of these buildings, creating a distinguishing pattern of exposed wood. It was very prevalent in medieval Europe and are still found in some parts of Europe today.
So, this time around, I have a piece that is all about a town famed for its half-timbered houses, and that is a perfect day trip to beautiful Monschau.
Some accidents are good, and I say this because Monschau happened to us accidently. The plan was to explore Eifel National Park in Germany over the Ascension Day weekend. I was checking out the various entrances to the national park, when I lucked upon this charming little city nestled in between hills and greenery very close to the Belgian border. I didn’t even know a city like that existed until I zoomed in closer and closer and suddenly several striking images of half-timbered houses threw me off my feet. Monschau’s idyllic beauty coerced me to alter my plans and finalise this city for a one-day visit.
Long story short, Monschau is a charming town in Western Germany that has astonishing ancient architecture, an artistic aura, and a tranquil atmosphere. Their half-timbered houses, tapered streets, historic buildings and the Rur river flowing through the town makes for the distinctive reposeful European getaway that every busy city dweller dreams of.
Monschau is located in the Eifel region of western part of Germany, in the state of North Rhine-Westphalia. It is a well-placed city for our dear Dutch as it is a stone’s throw away from the major cities in Netherlands like Amsterdam (by car 3 hrs and 15 mins), The Hague (3 hours), Rotterdam (2 hrs and 30 mins) and the likes, depending on traffic conditions. Also, it is near the border of Belgium. The distance between Monschau and the Belgian border is only about 5 kilometers or 3.1 miles.
As our itinerary included Eifel National Park and Monschau, we decided to stay in Aachen. We drove to Monschau on a Saturday evening, which is a 50 minutes’ drive from Aachen. We reached there only by 2 pm and were apprehensive that we hadn’t given enough time to explore this gorgeous city.
Note: Germany cities and cities are closed on Sundays and hence if you wish to visit Germany, it would be advisable to take note of the fact that most stores and shops are closed on Sunday. Sunday is considered a day of rest and religious observance. Restaurants and cafes may be open; however, their opening times may differ.
Things to do in Monschau in one day:
Visit the medieval Monschau Castle
The first thing we did was drive straight up to the Monschau castle which is situated atop a hill overlooking the town. We did not take the tour of the castle, but we did do justice by taking time to admire the spectacular views of the countryside. In my view, it is worth your time to take a tour of the medieval Monschau Castle as it is rich in history. It is a beautiful example of Renaissance architecture, and it gets even more beautiful because of its red sandstone walls and ornate details. Once a residence for the dukes, it dates back to the 13th century and during the 19th century it served as a military barracks.
Opening times:
The castle is open to visitors from April to October.
Mon to Fri – 10 am to 5 pm
Sat, Sun and public holidays – 10 am to 6 pm
Note:
By Car: There is a designated parking area near the castle, however you may need to walk a short distance as the castle is located in the old town.
By Bus: You can also take a bus from Aachen or Eupen to reach Monschau, and from there walk to the castle.
Guided Tours: There are several guided tours from cities such as Cologne and Aachen to the Monschau castle.
From the castle, we headed to the car parking situated closest to Monschau city center. Close to the car parking itself, we noticed a gorgeous half-timbered house which blew my mind away. Its white with red painted timber façade was a treat to the eyes. Just adjacent to it lay a canal gushing water from the Rur river. It was mystic, throwing back some reminiscences from my memorable trek to Himachal Pradesh in India back in school days.
The fascinating tour of the Red House Museum
We headed straight to the Red house museum which is a fascinating destination and cannot be missed. The museum is housed in a half-timbered building and is the apt place to learn about Monschau if you’re interested in knowing more. It features a variety of exhibitions about the history and culture of Monschau. The museum offers guided tours, workshops and educational programs including classes on traditional crafts, music, cooking etc. It took us approximately 45 minutes to see the museum.
Opening times:
The red house museum is open to visitors from Tuesday to Sunday. Mondays are closed.
Tue to Fri – 10 am to 5 pm
Sat, Sun and public holidays – 11 am to 6 pm
Explore the Old Town
It was already 4:30 pm by the time we arrived at the old town. The old town is certainly a great place to take a stroll, however what is even more spellbinding is the row upon row of impressive buildings. No two are alike, so you could end up dwelling in front of each building for long, without noticing the time fleeting by. Sometimes called the "Pearl of the Eifel", Monschau is largely unchanged for over 300 years. The city originated around 1195 so you must direct all your attention to the Old Town of Monschau which is a very quaint area with narrow streets, half-timbered houses, and graceful architecture. One of the handsomest buildings is Haus Troistorff.
Note: Generally, the shops in Monschau are open from 10 am to 6 pm from Monday to Saturday.
A little Play would do no harm
Before making a stop for dinner, we decided to take the kids to the play area Spielplatz am Rursee. It is located near the Rursee lake. Grandpa and grandma helped the kids on the swings and slides, while Sidd and I took a moment to stand on the bridge, listen to the soothing sound of the flowing water, and soak in the atmosphere.
Try the local cuisine
There are several restaurants, cafes and bistros in Monschau that offer their own unique dining experience to their guests. I always go by reviews on Foursqaure and/or on Google Maps based on my location and the star rating of the eatery.
A few restaurant and café recommendations:
Rotes Haus Monschau: For classic Eifel cuisine, dishes mainly being Eifel trout, venison, or hearty stews containing locally sourced ingredients.
Brauhaus Monschau: For hearty German dishes, including traditional Eifel-style sausages, sauerbraten (marinated pot roast), and schnitzel.
Restaurant Zur Altstadt: Modern German cuisine including dishes such as potato pancakes, Rindfleischsuppe (beef soup), and game dishes.
Café Kaulard - Enjoy Kaffee & Kuchen (coffee and cake), but don’t try any cake, try the German famed Apfel Kuchen (apple cake) or the sweet and spiced apples and raisins in a flaky crust dessert called Apfelstrudel (apple strudel).
Café Schröder – Try the Monschauer Dütchen, a a cone-shaped pastry filled with cream, custard, ice cream and/or fresh fruit.
Mention: A beautifully designed restaurant ambiance but the staff at ‘Alte Herrlichkeit’ restaurant wasn’t polite to us when we decided to dine there. Although it was empty when we got there for dinner, one of the staff rudely pointed us to a table at the door and when we requested to have a table by the window to dine by the view of the river, he rudely declined. So, we decided to go elsewhere lest we spoil our mood.
Shop your favorite Monschau German beer
Before you leave Monschau, do not forget to buy your favorite German beer. There were many stores that sampled beers and many beer gardens where you can sit, relax, and enjoy your beer. If you’re looking to shop for beer, the most famous beers include Monschau Klassik, Monschau Alt, Monschau Weizern (my favorite wheat beer), Monschau Dunkel (dark beer), Monschau Bock etc.
Places to sample beer in Monschau:
Brauerei Alt-Monschau
Brauhaus Monschau
Rursee-Brauerei
Note: These breweries also have shops in-house where you can buy your beers to take home. The tourist information center in Monschau also has a shop where you can buy your local beers. And then there are supermarkets such as Aldi, Lidl and Rewe which sell beers.
Monschau is not widely recognised as a location for liquor or wine tasting. However, there are some places where you can explore and taste various wines from the nearby Ahr Valley and spirits in and around Monschau.
Things to do in Monschau in two days:
If you have a 2 full days in Monschau, I’d also recommend adding the below to the Castle tour, Red House Museum tour and strolling about the city center.
Learn to brew your German Beer at Monschau Brewery
Just like many Germany breweries, the brewery at Monschau also offers tours and tastings for its visitors. It produces traditional German beer, which are brewed using local ingredients.
Glass-blowing demo at the Monschau Glass Factory (Glashutte Monschau)
I had visited the glass blowing factory and store in Murano Italy last year and hence in the interest of time, I decided to skip this bit. But if you haven’t seen glass blowing demonstration before or want to try your hand at making your own glass objects, then it is something that would want to consider adding to your itinerary. The glass factory at Monschau offers tours and demonstrations to its visitors.
Opening times:
The red house museum is open to visitors from Monday to Saturday.
The museum is closed on Sunday and public holidays.
Mon to Fri – 9 am to 5 pm
Sat– 9 am to 4 pm
A visit to the Mustard Mill
Do a mustard tasting at the Senfmühle Monschau (mustard mill). You can learn about the traditional process of making mustard. Or if you aren’t keen on this, then try Schnitzel with Monschauer Senf (mustard) sauce at the many restaurants serving it up.
Things to do with Kids:
It would be surprising if you read my blog post and couldn’t find anything to do with the kids. You are in for some luck. Even in Monschau, if you plan your visit well, you can probably stay a night in Monschau and plan to visit the Monschau Wildlife Park the next day.
Monsachu Wildlife Park
This wildlife park is a large nature reserve near Monschau town. The park is great for kids as it offers several educational programs and guided tours. Not my favorite part, but the park has many animal enclosures where you can see animals just like in a zoo. It is home to a plethora of animals like wolves, wild boars, birds, lynx etc.
The park also has a playground, restaurant serving traditional German food, and offers challenging hiking trails. In short, it is a great avenue for kids and requires a day to explore it.
Opening times:
Open daily from 9 am to 6 pm from March to October.
Open daily from 10 am to 4 pm from November to February.
Adventure Sports for young enthusiasts
Thanks to the Rur river, various adventure activities take place in the river such as Kayaking and its surroundings like hiking, cycling, mountain biking, high ropes courses such as zip lines, rope bridges and other obstacles. These activities are suitable for kids and are catered to their age group in a safe and enjoyable way.
Spielplatz am Haller play area
Take your toddlers and little ones to Spielplatz am Haller. It is a popular play area located near the Haller Castle. Here they can play on the swings, slides, climbing structures, and other equipment that is appropriate for children of all ages.
Treat your kids at Eis Venezia 🍦
It is a small but popular ice-cream salon in Monschau where you can indulge yourself in various delicious, creamy, and irresistible ice cream flavors such as hazelnut, caramel, mint chocolate chip, strawberry, chocolate, raspberry and more. But this is available everywhere, so what is so special? Eis Venezia has been producing ice-cream for decades offering a seasonal selection of flavors too such as pumpkin spice, eggnog, and tiramisu. Yum! They also offer sorbets and vegan ice creams.
Things to do in Winter:
Monschau Christmas Market
I’ve decided to save a weekend in December to visit the Christmas market in Monschau. Apparently, it is one of the best in Germany and it takes place in the popular town center during the holiday season. So, who is in for some great food, hot wine, festive décor, and Christmas gifts?
The Christmas market is usually held between late November and late December each year. Please check the official website for more information.
Things to do in Summer:
Monschau Music Festival
It is the annual music festival of Monschau that places in the summer months. Again, it is conducted in the popular town center and invites renowned artists and performers who are of local and international caliber in music.
The exact dates of the festival are displayed on the official website, or you also keep track of the local event listings.
Car Parking:
There are several paid car parkings close to the city center and a few further away, however they are maybe a bit of a walk if you’re with kids or aged people. It’s best to park closest to the city center and that is at ‘Parkplatz Aukloster’. Other nearby car parking spots are ‘Parkplatz Rursee’ and ‘Parkplatz Burgau’ which are also within walking distance from the city center.
Hotels:
Budget friendly hotels
Hotel Graf Rolshausen: This hotel is located in the heart of the town.
Hotel Alt Montjoie: Known for its friendly staff and convenient amenities. It is centrally located.
Hotel Jägerhof: Known for its warm hospitality and traditional charm, Hotel Jägerhof is a family-run hotel.
All the above hotels are located in the town center and are at a walking distance from the major attractions. They provide a comfortable stay for budget-conscious travelers and often offer reasonable rates to travelers and a friendly service.
Mid-range hotels
Hotel De Lange Man
Hotel Horchem: This is another mid-range hotel that receives positive reviews.
Both the hotels are located close to town center. They are conveniently located for exploring Monschau's attractions and provides easy access to Monschau's historic sites and natural beauty.
Luxury hotels
Hotel Restaurant Graf Rolshausen: This historic hotel is known for its classy ambiance and plush amenities. It offers well-appointed rooms, fine dining options, and a spa for guests to indulge in relaxation.
Landhaus Hotel Müller: Nestled in the picturesque countryside, this hotel offers an opulent retreat to its guests. The hotel features sophisticated rooms, a gourmet restaurant, and a tranquil wellness facility offering a spa area with sauna, relaxation lounges, pampering treatments, and a swimming pool. The hotel offers outdoor activities too such as hiking, cycling and other outdoor adventures.
Note: As a small town, Monschau does not have a wide selection of luxury hotels. However, the above 2 hotels are high-end accommodations that offer upscale amenities and services.
To get the most accurate and latest information regarding tariffs and availability, I recommend visiting travel websites like www.booking.com, www.hotels.com or contacting the hotels directly. They will be able to provide you with the current tariffs and any ongoing promotions or discounts they may have.
Hit me up if you have any questions. I hope you enjoy your time in the gorgeous German town of Monschau. Happy Reading :)
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