The best traffic-free bike rides around Masburg

Monreal with its historic town center is a pearl of the Eifel. The picturesque location on the Elzbach, with its many half-timbered houses and the higher-lying castle ruins, is beautiful to behold.

Picturesquely overlooked by the two castle ruins Löwenburg and Philippsburg, the half-timbered village of Monreal lies in the middle of the idyllic Elz valley. In the village, three stone bridges cross the Elz, the middle one, a road bridge, is adorned with the statue of John of Nepomuk and the lion monument, unique in the Rhineland. The numerous half-timbered houses from the 16th, 17th, and 18th centuries – a relic of the cloth makers of the Baroque period – are also worth seeing monuments of art. The Middle Ages are also encountered by the visitor, for example in the parish church from the 13th century or the cemetery chapel from the 12th century. The history of Monreal, with its numerous ups and downs, reflects the historical development of the entire Eifel region. In addition to the already mentioned idyllic location and the picturesque village center, numerous hiking trails, including the Traumpfad "Monrealer Ritterschlag" with impressive viewpoints, invite you to experience the unique landscape. Source: https://www.rlp-tourismus.com/de/ausflugsziele/ortsgemeinde-monreal/poi.html

The narrow alleys of Monreal, its quaint Holy Trinity Church, the massive Nepomuk Bridge over the clearly flowing Elzbach, and the ruins of Löwenburg and Philippsburg castles high above the village make for a beautiful excursion destination in the eastern Eifel. Monreal repeatedly won the competition „Our Village Has a Future“. The red-and-white half-timbered houses huddle closely together, and the 15th-century Viergiebelhaus in particular transports strollers into a fairytale past. The still beautifully preserved half-timbered houses bear witness to the prosperity that Monreal achieved from the 17th century onwards through the processing of sheep wool and cloth production. In the second half of the 19th century, manual labor was no longer competitive against international, industrialized competitors, and the population became impoverished. A fate that Monreal shares with the equally picturesque Monschau. Monreal is not just a visually relaxing excursion destination. Café Plüsch with its cozy interior, the Old Rectory with its country garden and sunny terrace on the stream bank, or the former signal box at the town gates are perfect addresses for gourmets. The originally furnished restaurant on the former railway line is connected to the medieval town center via a promenade along the Elzbach. A highlight for lovers of arts and crafts is the pottery in the Old School with its colorful ceramics, also exhibited in a terraced garden. Hikers will get their money's worth on the "Traumpfad Monrealer Ritterschlag" trail and will be rewarded for the sometimes steep passages with beautiful views. Source: https://www.eifel.info/pois/monreal

Street through the historic town center of Monreal with beautiful half-timbered houses.

The Stellwerk, a wine tavern and restaurant, has been located in the old train station in Monreal since 1992. Here, hearty, freshly prepared dishes and regional as well as international wines are offered in a cozy atmosphere.

Very interesting and worth seeing place.

The fairy-tale fountain at the Alten Postplatz tells a story. Here, on this spot, it is at its most beautiful.

The Ulmen Maar lies 420 meters above sea level today, covers an area of 5.5 hectares, and is 36 meters deep. The bubbles at the maar's edge demonstrate that volcanism is still active. They bear witness to a turbulent past—but rest assured, there's no eruption in sight! A wall of various rocks and ash, up to 20 meters thick, surrounds the cone. For those interested, these testimonies to this explosive past are beautifully displayed in St. Matthias Church. This unique wall, with its different colored layers and rounded inclusions, is worth seeing for more than just geologists. The slopes of the maar basin are covered with a beautiful forest, which can be explored on a circular walk. A detour to the medieval castle ruins, from which the Crusaders once launched their campaigns, is recommended. The view from the crater rim over the maar and the Eifel beyond will take your breath away. Whether after a sweaty hike or a long drive, the blue of the Ulmer Eifel lake is all too tempting in summer. However, bathing in the maar is prohibited because it is designated as a nature and water protection area.