Cologne cathedral, 1945
20th Century

World War II

The reforestation at Ofenkaulberg conceals very painful memories. Forced labor in the Ofenkaulen mines and air raids during World War II. The war raged between 1939 and 1945 and affected the civilians more than any war before.

Chancellor Adenauer's Mercedes, Haus der Geschichte, Bonn
20th Century

Federal Republic

The last chapter deals with the democratic new beginning after the Second World War, the “Bonn years” of the Federal Republic of Germany, and the state guests on Mount Petersberg.

Einsiedlertal, Siebengebirge, Bad Honnef
Löwenburg, Honnef and surroundings

Einsiedlertal

The Einsiedlertal Valley takes you from Bad Honnef up into the Siebengebirge, direction Löwenburg. In English, it would be “Hermits’ Valley”, and if you like wild romantic sceneries, you will enjoy this trail.

Bad Honnef-Rhöndorf, chapel, Rhöndorf Siebengebirge hiking
Rhöndorf and Breiberg

Trailhead Rhöndorf

Bad Honnef – Rhöndorf on the Rhine is a good trailhead to discover the Siebengebirge, hiking trails take you to Mount Breiberg and farther up into the nature park. It is a charming town on the Rhine.

Shelter at Mount Breiberg
Rhöndorf and Breiberg

Breiberg

Hiking at Breiberg is wonderful. Actually, there are two mountains of that name, Großer (312,9 m high) and Kleiner Breiberg (288 m high). In the past, the Großer Breiberg was also called Breiberich or perhaps Briberich, which fits well because according to legend, dwarves had settled here. The third stage of the long-distance hiking trail Rheinsteig from Rhöndorf to Bad […]

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Mountains and Valleys

Hiking through the Siebengebirge

Welcome! Hiking through the Siebengebirge is inspiring in many ways. Enjoy the view from the Mount Ölberg in the morning when the mists clear, hear the birds sing in the lovely Nachtigallental (Nightingale Valley), ride on the Drachenfelsbahn to Mount Drachenfels and enjoy the view across the Rhine Valley, find a break from stressful days at Heisterbach Abbey, or rekindle […]

Rhine banks at Bonn, early morning
Rhine

“Father” Rhine

On the way from his sources in the Swiss Alps to the Northern Sea, “Father” Rhine flows through six countries: Switzerland, Liechtenstein, Austria, France, Germany, and the Netherlands. So, if we speak of “Father” Rhine, he has a lot of children and these countries, and I have a lot of brothers and sisters there. A lot has always been written […]

Guide

How to get here? Google map

The Siebengebirge is situated in the Rhineland, on the right bank of the Rhine River, Federal State of North Rhine-Westphalia. The cities in the Siebengebirge are Königswinter and Bad Honnef. Siebengebirge cities All local trains stop in Königswinter and Bad Honnef. If you come in car, the A3 motorway will take you right into our area, there is an exit […]

Heisterbach, Siebengebirge, the gate into the woods
Legends

Siebengebirge legends

There are many Rhine and Siebengebirge legends, some of which you will find here: traditional ones that have been told for many years, free versions of an old theme and also entirely new fairy tales. You may already know The Monk of Heisterbach, or “A thousand years are like one day”. Another popular Siebengebirge legend, The Seven Giants explains how […]