Bad Neuenahr-Ahrweiler offers numerous signposted hiking trails and a spa history dating back to the mid-19th century. The AhrSteig runs through the Ahr Valley, while the 35-kilometre Red Wine Hiking Trail passes through the vineyards along the Ahr. In Ahrweiler itself, the old town, Roman history and museums are key attractions in their own right.
Hiking and Cycling
The AhrSteig is a long-distance hiking trail through the Ahr Valley. The Red Wine Hiking Trail stretches for 35 kilometres through vineyard landscapes; during the grape harvest, you may also encounter local winegrowing. The trail offers a tangible way to combine hiking with wine culture. The many signposted routes complement these two trails.
A cycling tour starts at the spa park in Bad Neuenahr-Ahrweiler and follows a detour off the Ahr Cycle Route towards Remagen-Kripp. To explore in a different way, you can reach the Roman iron-smelting settlement by taking the Iron Trail from the Alte Mauer hiking car park. The cycling tour’s starting point and destination are specified, while access from the hiking car park helps orient you on the Iron Trail.
Spa History in Bad Neuenahr
Bad Neuenahr’s identity as a spa town is linked to two springs: the Apollinaris Spring was discovered in 1852, and the Great Geyser was drilled as a medicinal spring in 1861. Art Nouveau buildings and the spa park preserve the town’s historic spa character. The spa’s focus includes healing, alleviating and preventing illness, as well as promoting health. This describes the character of the town and offers a different perspective on a trip than hiking trails or winegrowing.
Ahrweiler: Old Town and Museums
The historic centre of Ahrweiler is defined by its town walls, four gate towers, watchtowers and remnants of a former moat. Parts of the town centre can be explored on foot without cars. Half-timbered houses cluster around the market square, and St. Laurentius Church dates back to 1269. The walls, gates and towers from the 13th to 15th centuries, along with St. Laurentius Parish Church, are historic landmarks. Regular guided tours bring the old town to life, offering a chance to discover its architectural history on a guided walk.
The Museum of the City of Bad Neuenahr-Ahrweiler is housed in a three-storey 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. The House of the Marksmen displays art-historical treasures from three centuries, including uniforms, photographic documentation and historic marksmen’s rifles. Ahrweiler’s three marksmen’s associations have run the museum since 2002. Visits and guided tours for groups of eight or more can be arranged by appointment.
Roman Times and the Cold War
At the Roman Villa in Ahrweiler, visitors can explore Roman rooms and get a vivid impression of upper-class Roman domestic life. A model of the Roman estate and an audiovisual presentation complement the tour. The focus here is on Roman-era homes, while the Winegrowers’ Museum and the old town cover other chapters of local history.
A preserved section of the former government bunker serves as a Cold War museum. The bunker was built between 1962 and 1971 as an emergency seat of government for the constitutional bodies of the Federal Republic of Germany and could accommodate 3,000 people. Visitors explore it on a guided tour lasting approximately 90 minutes. This approximate duration is a useful guide for planning; check the latest tour times in advance.
Wine Villages and Landscapes
Bachem is a historic winegrowing village known for Frühburgunder wine. The Bachem Backes dates from 1650 and has housed the Winegrowers’ Museum since 1978. The museum introduces historical equipment used in winegrowing and agriculture; bread is still baked in the old bakehouse. The village thus brings together the history of winegrowing and a baking tradition that is still practised today.
Steep rock formations shape the landscape in Walporzheim. Bunte Kuh and Kaiserstuhl are distinctive rock formations in the village; the oldest surviving vineyard terraces in the Ahr Valley, dating from the 12th century, are also located there. Walporzheim is known for its wines, and the St. Peter inn is regarded as the oldest wine house on the Ahr. The local wine-related attractions differ: Bachem focuses on Frühburgunder and the Winegrowers’ Museum, while Walporzheim is known for its rocks, historic terraces and wine house.
Discover more destinations: Ramersbach, Bachem, Ehlingen, Heimersheim, Heppingen, Marienthal, Walporzheim, Altenahr
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