Aachen's most beautiful path - pure nature & exciting discoveries
If you think of Aachen, Karl the Great , the border triangle and of course the Aachen Cathedral to mind. The famous Aachen Prints include - a specialty that, incidentally, not only tastes good at Christmas time, but is also enjoyed in every season. 🙂
Aachen is a city where you can feel the zeitgeist. History comes alive here while the art and culture scene blooms. At the same time, Aachen offers space for deceleration and connection with nature - because the city also allows an escape to the countryside. When the sun rays seem particularly warm on the city, there are numerous hiking routes where you simply turn your back on the city and walk into the countryside.
Here are our highlights: idyllic, beneficial and right on the doorstep .
1. City escape with depth - from Burtscheid to the borderland
Route: 8.9 km
duration: 2:30 h
Start your tour in the middle of Aachen, right at the main train station, and quickly leave the everyday stress behind you. Burtscheider Kurpark greets you with a baroque splendor and an exciting history - because the Abbey Church of St. Johann tells of a long past time when Burtscheid was a city.
Soon you dive into green oases: the path follows the Gillesbach , which crosses the city and ultimately disappears underground. As you continue your path towards the Aachen forest , you walk past flowering meadows and fruit trees and can sniff the fresh country air. With milkstorms, you can tap fresh milk directly from the farmer and discover other regional products - a real experience! Cozy benches and a playground you to linger at the Kupferbachstauherher There was even a barge here in the past!
Then it goes gently uphill through the Aachen forest to the border crossing head. Here nature, history and culture merge : Impressive sandstone cyclical stones tell of the creation of the city! On the way there, the cultural center with the Kukuk Cafébar to a relaxed break with coffee, delicious cakes and relaxing with a forest view .
You can find more information about the tour here .
2. City hiking with depth - from the cloth to Ponttor
Route: 7.3 km
duration: 2:08 h
This small but versatile hike combines nature, history and urban landscape . The starting point is the clothing in the soers ( tip: use public transport: the “Soers” stop is regularly approached by buses). Also ideal for everyone who wants to travel more sustainably. It is a creative place with industrial history and cultural pulse . If you have a little more time or want to return, you can exhibitions and theater guided tour or in inspiring workshops . From the cloth it goes into the hard park - a calm, green refuge with natural ponds and hidden paths .
The paths lead you up to the Lousberg , where outlooks, monuments and historical traces accompany at every turn: the Tranchot-Obelisk , the film tower Belvedere , the legendary devil with the market woman -a place where myths seem to be alive. And if you like, you rock on the Lousberg terrace in one of the hammocks with a view of the vastness.
Tip: Chill spot on the Lousberg-snap a book, make a little picnic or sketch the landscape-ideal to switch off and have creative ideas sprout.
Finally, the path leads down the Salvator Church into the city - directly to the Ponttor , where history meets a living present . A tour for everyone who stays curious and to rediscover your city again and again .
You can find more information here .
3. Iterbacht tour - between Bach and Viaduct
Route: 7.5 km
duration: 2:30 h
The Ittertal is a real jewel for everyone who to feel history and nature equally . The approximately 8 kilometers start directly in the historic town center at the Korneliusmarkt in Kornelimünster (tip: by bus SB66 from "Aachen Bushof" to "Kornelimünster" you are on site in 2l min). The tour leads through green meadows, silent nature reserves and past a freely flowing stream - the perfect place to completely escape everyday life. The area around Kornelimünster popular over a thousand years ago because of its natural resources: Benedikt von Aniane was looking for a plot of land here in 814 to found a monastery - and even the Romans have already shaped this landscape by their network of paths.
Tip: it can hardly be smaller - narrowest house is at Benediktusplatz 17 - just 2.42 meters is wide!
While you slowly leave the settlement behind you, you run along the Iterbach, which previously branches off from the Inde, via juicy meadows, on which animal residents can also be found. 😉
Today you can feel the history of early industrialization when viewing from the valley heights over the gentle Münsterland and when roaming through the quiet nature reserve. Iron was once processed here and some traces of this time can still be discovered today ... Again and again you encounter exciting highlights: the impressive Vennbahnviaduct , the old mills such as the royal mill and several viewpoints with a breathtaking view. A real highlight for adventurous is the crossing of the stream on steps.
You can find more information from this route here .
So what are you waiting for? Leave everyday life behind you, lace your hiking shoes and discover the natural beauty of Aachen!
