Most people have never heard of the little town of
Monschau, Germany. (
At least the people I know haven't.) It's just over the Belgian border into Germany, not too far from Aachen.
Monschau might not look like much when you first approach the city. The weather probably didn't help very much. It was overcast and a little chilly when we arrived, but we were there for an adventure. Russ had the day off, so he and I decided to explore a new area while the kids were in school...and
Monschau was it.
One of the first buildings to catch you eye when you
enter Monschau is the Red House. It seemed more like the Pink House to me, but no matter what the color...it was
impressive. It was built in 1752 by the
cloth maker and merchant Johann Heinrich
Scheibler. Consider this an appetizer. When you wander a little further...
You get a taste of what
Monschau is really like. And she's a beauty. The whole town is build over and beside rocky streams, and around every corner is another treat for the eyes.
The buildings were constructed in the traditional Venn and
Eifel style, and that just adds to her charm. Even a cloudy day can't take away from her beauty.
This church was in the center of town.
He didn't have much to say, but this fellow was dressed quite stylishly.
This is the town train. If you don't feel up to walking around, you can take a 30 minute ride on the train and it will take to all the sites you want to see for around 6 euro.
If you want a
great view of the city, climb up the hill to the castle.
Monschau castle was built in the early 13
th century. She's seen a lot of battles throughout her history. At one point, she even belonged to the French.
After WWI, a youth hostel was set up in the western wing of the castle.
During the summer months, lots of programs are held here. Looking at an old schedule, we discovered that even ABBA has performed within these walls. We worked up quite an appetite hiking around, so we stopped at the
Schloss Cafe and had the lunch special. It was delicious! The Royal Menu special included soup, salad,
schnitzel with a spicy mustard sauce that is made in
Monschau, fries, and coffee to finish. If I keep eating meals like this, you'll have to roll me out of Europe. Wow! The good news is that Russ got to enjoy this meal with me. The bad news is that he now knows how spoiled I've become while traveling around the area.
Completely stuffed, we headed out again to work off our fantastic meal. While we were admiring the view, a very nice local lady stopped by and asked if we would like her to take our picture. We really appreciated her kind gesture.
The sun broke through and the skies cleared, and it really was a beautiful day.
You get a taste of what Monschau is really like. And she's a beauty. The whole town is build over and beside rocky streams, and around every corner is another treat for the eyes. 
The buildings were constructed in the traditional Venn and Eifel style, and that just adds to her charm. Even a cloudy day can't take away from her beauty. 
This church was in the center of town. 
He didn't have much to say, but this fellow was dressed quite stylishly. 
This is the town train. If you don't feel up to walking around, you can take a 30 minute ride on the train and it will take to all the sites you want to see for around 6 euro. 
If you want a great view of the city, climb up the hill to the castle. 
Monschau castle was built in the early 13th century. She's seen a lot of battles throughout her history. At one point, she even belonged to the French. 
After WWI, a youth hostel was set up in the western wing of the castle. 
During the summer months, lots of programs are held here. Looking at an old schedule, we discovered that even ABBA has performed within these walls. We worked up quite an appetite hiking around, so we stopped at the Schloss Cafe and had the lunch special. It was delicious! The Royal Menu special included soup, salad, schnitzel with a spicy mustard sauce that is made in Monschau, fries, and coffee to finish. If I keep eating meals like this, you'll have to roll me out of Europe. Wow! The good news is that Russ got to enjoy this meal with me. The bad news is that he now knows how spoiled I've become while traveling around the area. 
Completely stuffed, we headed out again to work off our fantastic meal. While we were admiring the view, a very nice local lady stopped by and asked if we would like her to take our picture. We really appreciated her kind gesture. 
The sun broke through and the skies cleared, and it really was a beautiful day. 
Monschau was a pleasure to explore. I can only imagine how beautiful she is in the middle of summer with the trees and flowers in full bloom. I also heard a little rumor that she hosts a wonderful Christmas Market in December, too. I have a feeling this isn't the last we've seen of this little town. She really is a hidden treasure. 
It is helpful! I'll be there in Feb, thanks for the info/
ReplyDeleteHi Thanks for the information. I visited the town in Late Dec 2012, I just have a question about the Monument in front to the Cafe Kurlard. It depicts three men. Do you know why it has been built? We were only there for a few hours. You need a day really. Sadly we could not enter the Red House as it was closed. We were staying with friends at Waremme, Belgium, who surprised us with a visit to Monschau, so I could not do much research before arriving. However a really enjoyable place.. Noel from Australia
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