Bad Neuenahr-Ahrweiler: Spa Tradition, Wine and History

Hiking and Cycling

There are numerous signposted hiking trails, including the long-distance AhrSteig trail through the Ahr Valley. The 35-kilometer Red Wine Trail runs through the vineyards along the Ahr; during the grape harvest, it offers opportunities to encounter winemaking. The two trails therefore offer different thematic emphases: the AhrSteig focuses on hiking in the Ahr Valley, while the Red Wine Trail links its route with the wine landscape and winemaking.

A bike tour starts at the spa gardens in Bad Neuenahr-Ahrweiler and follows a detour from the Ahr Cycle Route toward Remagen-Kripp. If you would also like to include an archaeological site: the Roman iron-smelting settlement can be reached from the Alte Mauer hiking car park via the Eisenweg trail.

Spa Tradition in Bad Neuenahr

Bad Neuenahr’s spa history is linked to two springs: the Apollinaris Spring was discovered in 1852, and the Große Sprudel spring was drilled as a healing spring in 1861. Art Nouveau buildings and the spa gardens preserve the character of this historic spa town. The city’s spa profile includes healing, relief and prevention of illness, as well as health promotion. The springs and preserved architecture give the town a historical perspective distinct from Ahrweiler’s history of winemaking and urban development.

Roman History and the Cold War

At the Roman Villa in Ahrweiler, visitors can walk through Roman rooms and learn about the domestic culture and life of the Roman elite. The visit includes a model of the Roman estate and an audiovisual presentation. The tour thus combines a look inside the rooms with an introduction to the complex.

Another chapter of history is brought to life in a preserved section of the former government bunker, which serves as a museum about the Cold War. The bunker was built from 1962 to 1971 as a fallback headquarters for the constitutional bodies of the Federal Republic of Germany and had room for 3,000 people. Visitors explore it on a tour lasting about 90 minutes.

Ahrweiler: Old Town and Museums

Ahrweiler’s historic center is defined by its city wall, four gate towers, watchtowers and remnants of a former moat; parts of the old town can be explored on foot without cars. Half-timbered houses stand around the market square with St. Lawrence’s Church, dated to 1269. Ahrweiler thus preserves a romantic medieval character. Regular guided tours take visitors through the old town.

The Museum of the City of Bad Neuenahr-Ahrweiler is housed in a three-story residential tower dating from the second half of the 13th century. Its permanent exhibition covers the history of Bad Neuenahr and Ahrweiler, as well as the history of tourism in the Ahr Valley. Its themes range from the development of the two towns to the history of tourism in the Ahr Valley.

The House of the Marksmen displays art-historical treasures from three centuries, uniforms, pictorial documentation and historic marksmen’s rifles. Visits and guided tours for groups of eight or more are available by arrangement. Keep this access requirement in mind when planning your visit.

The History of Winemaking in Bachem and Walporzheim

Bachem is a historic wine village known for Frühburgunder, an early-ripening Pinot Noir. The Bachemer Backes dates from 1650 and has housed the Winzer Museum since 1978. It displays historic winemaking and agricultural equipment. The museum is located in the old bakehouse, which is still used for baking bread. The focus here is therefore both on the history of winemaking as a livelihood and on the building’s continued use.

Walporzheim is known for its wines and features a striking landscape with steep rock formations. Bunte Kuh and Kaiserstuhl are characteristic rock formations in the area. The village is also home to the oldest preserved vineyard terraces in the Ahr Valley, dating from the 12th century. In addition, the St. Peter inn in Walporzheim is the oldest wine house on the Ahr. Here, winemaking, landscape and historical heritage can each be explored in context.

Discover More Destinations

Discover more destinations: Ramersbach, Heimersheim, Heppingen, Bachem, Ehlingen, Marienthal, Walporzheim, Brohl-Lützing.

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