Discover Hürth: Hiking routes and Roman traces

If you are looking for a hotel in Hürth, your travel interests can help you decide where to stay: hiking and walking, water sports or Roman history lead to different themes within Hürth. Specific points of reference include the 10.8-kilometre Otto-Maigler circuit, the Roman Canal hiking trail in Hürth-Hermülheim, and a starting point for the circuit at Otto-Maigler-See in Hürth-Gleuel. Depending on your interests, route length, views, historical details or arranging things in advance can all help guide your plans.

Hiking and views

The Otto-Maigler circuit is 10.8 kilometres long and offers opportunities for hiking and walking in every season. One starting point is at Otto-Maigler-See in Hürth-Gleuel, on route 711. If you plan to reach this starting point by bus, check the current timetable for the route before travelling. The circuit also passes the remains of Kloster Burbach, a Cistercian nunnery founded in 1233. The route length, starting point and monastery ruins give you different points of reference when planning a trip based on its duration and your interest in history.

The Roman Canal hiking trail focuses on something different: in Hürth-Hermülheim, it follows the spur of the spoil heap from the Hürtherberg open-cast lignite mine, which ceased operation in the 1920s, to a viewpoint. From there, the view stretches across the Cologne Bay to the Siebengebirge hills. This route brings together the former open-cast mine, the shape of the spoil heap and a clearly identified viewpoint. The Otto-Maigler circuit can be considered in terms of its length and year-round hiking and walking opportunities; on the Roman Canal hiking trail, the viewpoint and the mining context are the defining points of reference.

Roman history in Hürth-Hermülheim

In Hürth-Hermülheim, the Roman Canal hiking trail includes a section of the Roman aqueduct that formed part of the Hürth water conduit, built around 30 AD. At this station, Roman water conduits from Berrenrath, Aldenrath, Frechen and Bachem flowed into the Hürth conduit. The station therefore offers two perspectives on the Hürth conduit: its approximate date of construction and the places from which other conduits flowed into it.

Another detail in the history of water supply can be found at St. Catherine’s Catholic parish church in Hürth-Hermülheim, built in 1894–1895: aqueduct marble obtained from the Eifel aqueduct was used as the base for the baptismal font. Roman water engineering and the later use of the marble in the church offer different ways to explore this historical subject.

Water sports at Otto-Maigler-See

Otto-Maigler-See is known for its wide range of water sports. The clubs based at the lake offer rowing, fishing and windsurfing by prior arrangement. If you are planning one of these activities, arrange your participation in advance with the relevant club. This lets you distinguish between the activities available at the lake and the specific club offerings, which require prior arrangements, when planning your trip.

The Rhein-Erft district as a wider destination

Across the wider Rhein-Erft district destination, leisure activities include hiking, cycling and water sports; there is also a dedicated Water Castles Route for cycling. Castles, fortresses, museums and historic mills are among the regional attractions. As part of the Cologne Bay, the Rhein-Erft district is one of Germany’s regions with the highest concentration of moated castles. In Bergheim, the BERGHEIMAT Museum presents the town’s history through audio and interactive stations as well as a small museum cinema; its exhibition programme includes permanent and temporary exhibitions.

Discover more destinations: Kerpen, Elsdorf, Buir, Frechen, Bedburg, Erftstadt, Wesseling and Bergheim.

For the wider travel overview: Rhein-Erft district.