Travel Blog: Monschau, Germany

Monschau, Germany

---

29th July 2020

Monschau, is called the "Pearl of the Eifel". The small, historic town in the German Eifel. Monschau has been largely unchanged for over 300 years, the narrow, cobblestoned streets and traditional half-timbered houses have made this charming place one of the main tourist attractions of the region.

Monschau is set in the beautiful landscapes of the Eifel region and nearby the Eifel National Park. While Monschau is popular in summer, it's probably more famous for its Christmas Market during the Winter.

We parked our car at the Monschau Parkplatz where for some reason you can only pay with a German bank card or coins. We quickly bought an espresso at Caffee roasting Wilh. Maassen, to get some coins for the parking.

Monschau is a small town and can be mostly visited walking though sometimes you need to walk up the steep slopes of the Eifel. We ended up strolling a few hours in the photogenic narrow, cobblestoned streets and visited some shops during our walk. 

The Evangelische Stadtkirche Monschau is a beautiful church in the center of Monschau and is also a beautiful photo location.

Another beautiful sight is the castle, Burg Monschau. Monschau Castle was probably built at the beginning of the 13th century. In the mid-14th century the complex was expanded and enclosed by mighty ring walls and walkways.

After the First World War, a youth hostel moved into the west wing. Thus, the castle of Monschau as a "youth castle" remains lively and inviting. Christo even packed it in 1971, and it is a highlight of Monschau when the castle and town are illuminated. In summer, the castle courtyard becomes an atmospheric backdrop for the "Monschau Festival". Then the performances of renowned artists and renowned orchestras transform the castle into a real Mecca for music fans. There is a youth hostel in the castle. For this reason it is unfortunately not possible to visit the building itself. But a visit to the courtyard and the fantastic view of the city are also worthwhile!

We decided to have dinner before walking up the Kierberg to see an amazing sunset over the city of Monschau and called it a day.