North Eifel

The North Eifel lies in the north-western corner of Germany, where rolling lowlands meet the beginnings of a low mountain range. It forms the northern half of the Eifel, stretching from the Belgian border towards the Rhine valley. Six distinct landscapes make up the region: the flat Venn Foreland, the high moorland of Hohes Venn, the Rur valley, the limestone uplands, the Our valley and the highest ridge called High Eifel. The raised bog of Hohes Venn is one of the area’s outstanding features. UNESCO has recognised this unique wetland as a world heritage site. In the centre of the North Eifel the Eifel Lake Plateau holds the Rur Valley Dam, the second largest dam in Germany. The region also contains Eifel National Park and several smaller forests such as Hürtgen Forest and Zitter Forest. Visitors find wide, open moorland where cotton grass and heather grow. The Rur Valley Dam creates a large lake surrounded by wooded hills. In Monschau the old half-timbered houses line cobbled streets. Kermeter’s dense forests offer quiet walking paths, while the Our valley follows a clear river through gentle farmland.