Blankenheim

The source of the Ahr

Nestled in beautiful natural surroundings, the source of the Ahr, Blankenheim, invites you to take a stroll through the old castle town, where the Ahr rises under an old half-timbered house and flows into the Rhine after 90 kilometres. Travelling to Blankenheim feels like travelling back in time to centuries long past. Pretty half-timbered houses adorn the town centre, many of them listed buildings. Old town gates give an idea of how the town protected and armed itself in the Middle Ages. One of the most romantic corners is the little street Am Zuckerberg. Here, visitors not only come across the oldest half-timbered houses in Blankenheim, but can also marvel at the narrowest house in North Rhine-Westphalia at just 1.90 metres wide and discover the famous Ahr spring in a vaulted cellar.

In the immediate neighbourhood is the Eifelmuseum with the Gildenhaus, a representative half-timbered building of the Blankenheim clothmakers' guild from the 17th century. Nice cafés invite you to take a break during the tour, usually with a view of the imposing Grafenburg castle, which towers high above the town. It is well worth the climb to enjoy the marvellous view over Blankenheim and the surrounding natural landscape, which is perfect for relaxing hikes and bike rides.