Blankenheim: Count’s Castle, Ahr Spring and Ghost Parade

The Count’s Castle offers a glimpse into Blankenheim’s architectural history; the Ahr Cycle Route and the Ahr-Steig hiking trail begin at the Ahr Spring, and the Eifelsteig passes by on its seventh stage. Another reason to visit is the annual Ghost Parade on Carnival Saturday. If you are looking for a hotel in Blankenheim, these different highlights can guide your plans: history, trails or a specific date.

Count’s Castle and sights

The Count’s Castle was originally built as a hilltop castle around 1115. Over time, the medieval fortified complex was converted into a Baroque palace. Its history therefore brings together two distinct phases of construction: the castle as a fortification and its later form as a palace. Anyone visiting Blankenheim primarily for its history will find a clear starting point here for exploring the town’s development.

Other sights in Blankenheim include the Eifel Museum as well as the Shepherd’s Gate and the George’s Gate. Together with the Count’s Castle, they provide further named points of interest for a history-focused stay. This makes it possible to plan around either the development of a single building or several sights in the town.

Trails at the Ahr Spring and Freilinger Lake

Both the Ahr Cycle Route and the Ahr-Steig hiking trail begin at the Ahr Spring in Blankenheim. Stage 7 of the long-distance Eifelsteig hiking trail passes by the spring. The routes therefore share a starting point, but differ in whether you choose a cycling route, a hiking trail or a stage of a long-distance trail.

The Ahr Cycle Route is rideable all the way between Blankenheim and Ahrbrück, with minor restrictions. Check current route conditions before setting out. The RadBus route 899 Oberes Ahrtal also runs between Blankenheim and Ahrbrück. As schedules may change, check the latest services if you plan to travel by bus.

Nearby Freilinger Lake in Freilingen offers more ways to enjoy the water: windsurfing, paddling, rowing and diving, as well as swimming at your own risk. A signposted Nordic walking trail also runs around the lake. You can choose between water activities and a marked route for Nordic walking.

The Blankenheim Ghost Parade

The Blankenheim Ghost Parade takes place every year on Carnival Saturday. It starts at 7:11 p.m. at the pharmacy on Ahrstraße. Anyone can join in as a ghost; you will need a white bedsheet and a pitch torch. If you want to plan your trip around the parade, check the specific date and available packages in advance. This distinguishes the recurring annual event from the details of each year’s scheduled parade.

More options in the wider Euskirchen destination

The wider Euskirchen destination offers additional trails and places to visit. A 13.5-kilometre circular route runs around Olef Lake and is suitable for hiking and cycling. Near Effelsberg, the nearly 800-metre-long Planet Trail has featured information panels about the planets in our solar system and the Sun since autumn 2004. The two activities offer distinct options: a loop around the lake or a short trail with astronomy information panels.

At the Besucherbergwerk Grube Wohlfahrt mine, the Tiefen Stollen, with several side tunnels, has been developed as a visitor mine over a total of about 900 metres; guided tours start at the mine building. In Nettersheim, the Eifel Nature Centre offers guided excursions, seminars and programmes for children and school classes. Regular events include fossil hunts, introductions to beekeeping and programmes about Roman life; check the dates before your visit.

The Zülpich Roman Baths tell 2,000 years of bathing history above an exceptionally well-preserved Roman bathing complex. Children can enjoy interactive activity stations, scent experiences, ancient games and varied treasure hunts. Along with its trails and visitor mine, Euskirchen offers these additional themes, distinct from the sights and routes in Blankenheim.

Discover more destinations: Ahrdorf, Dollendorf, Reetz, Ripsdorf, Lommersdorf, Freilingen, Bronsfeld, Pesch.

Back to the wider travel overview: Euskirchen.