The best city hikes and walks around Meckenheim

The city's website explains: "Meckenheim was granted town rights in 1636 by the Archbishop of Cologne, Ferdinand of Bavaria. A visible expression of the new status was the creation of a town seal with the inscription "SIGILLUM OPPIDI MECKENHEIMENSIS". It shows two important elements of the Meckenheim coat of arms, which was created around the same time: the imperial orb and the Electorate of Cologne cross. The Meckenheim town coat of arms consists of a silver shield, which is divided into four fields by the black cross taken from the coat of arms of the Archbishops of Cologne. The cross and the colors silver and black indicate the archbishop as the sovereign, whereas the interpretation of the blue imperial orb with the golden cross is more difficult. On the one hand, the imperial orb could refer to the hereditary stewardship of the House of Wittelsbach, from which Archbishop Ferdinand came, to whom Meckenheim owed the granting of town rights. On the other hand, it could be an expression of Meckenheim's connection to the important Rhenish noble family of the Ezzonen. The Polish Queen Richeza, who came from this family, donated land in Meckenheim to the Benedictine monastery of Brauweiler, which was founded by the family. Her father was the Count Palatine of Lorraine Ezzo, whose ancestors came from the Carolingian imperial nobility. Through her mother Mathilde, a daughter of Emperor Otto II and the Empress Theophanu from Byzantium, Richeza was related to the Saxon ruling house of the Ottonians that ruled at the time." (Source: https://www.meckenheim.de/cms117/stadtportrait_touristik/stadtgeschichte/wappen/ )

The structure initially reminds one of a small shrine, such as one can find in many places. But a second look reveals that a clay jug is depicted in the center. Here, the hiker is not standing in front of a small sacred monument, but is referred to a former high medieval pottery settlement that was located nearby on Uhlgasse. It was abandoned around the beginning of the 17th century.

Only the street sign "Synagogue Square" indicates that this was the center of Jewish community life from 1870 to 1938. The area is now a parking lot. However, the Jewish community itself is more than a century and a half older than the synagogue that once stood here: The Jewish cemetery, located a little outside the center - if you are interested, see https://www.komoot.com/de-de/highlight/6878574 - has been in use since 1711.

Near a roundabout characterized by heavy car traffic - and thus unfortunately not a very tranquil place for pedestrians - the city of Meckenheim has also publicly presented an excavated section of the Roman canal.

The Jewish cemetery in Meckenheim can look back on a centuries-old tradition. It was founded in 1711, and the oldest gravestone dates from 1776. The Meckenheim local history association commemorates this history with an information board. There is also an official memorial stone that bears the Star of David at the top and the inscription below: "Cemetery of the Jewish community of Meckenheim. In memory of our dead from the period 1933 - 1945". Note to male visitors: As a sign of respect, you are only required to enter a Jewish cemetery wearing a head covering. The following highlight commemorates the Jewish synagogue in Meckenheim https://www.komoot.com/de-de/highlight/6878668

In the former train station building, on the route of line S23 between Bonn and Euskirchen, a restaurant/bar called "Stellwerk" was opened.

The Federal Railway line S23 connects the two cities of Bonn and Euskirchen. This means that Meckenheim is also well connected to local public rail transport.

It must never be forgotten that Jews enriched Meckenheim with their culture – until they were all expelled, deported and killed.