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Category Archives: Aachen & Euregio
Paddling days on the Rursee:
It’s that time of the year when I crave to get back out onto the water again – however, this year it’s different unfortunately. Whilst normally I’d be cheerily loading up kayaks onto the roof bars on a weekend, I’m … Continue reading
Posted in Aachen & Euregio, Canoe Trips, In Europe, Wild Places
Tagged Aachen, canoeing, Eifel, Eifel National Park, kayaking, Rursee, sea kayaking
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Green Shoots from Old Roots – Reimagining cultural landscapes
Given its proximity to where we live, the upland plateau of the Eifel, located to the South of Aachen is one of our most popular choices for day trips. In recent years it has become increasingly frequented as a tourist … Continue reading
Posted in Aachen & Euregio, History & Culture, In Europe, Trees & Greenspaces, Wild Places
Tagged Aachen, ancient woodlands, biomass, biomass energy, cultural heritage tourism, cultural landscapes, ecotourism, Eicherscheid, Eifel, Eifel National Park, European beavers, European Village Renewal Award, firewood, Flurhecken, folk tales, Green Tourism, Haushecken, hedges, hollow ways, Mützenich, Monschau, Monschauer Heckenlandschaft, Natura 2000, rewilding, River Rur, Simmerath, sustainable development, woodlands
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Snow Days
Straight back to the present again and winter in this part of Germany can be a grey time, often without a glimpse of sunshine for days on end. Corona lockdowns, gloomy news headlines, cancelled events and restrictive lives haven’t helped … Continue reading
Posted in Aachen & Euregio, In Europe, Trees & Greenspaces
Tagged Aachen, cross country skiing, Eifel, outdoors, Snow, snowman, wellbeing, winter
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Carnival in the Eifel
It’s getting close to Carnival time here in Germany – however due to the Corona pandemic festivities will be somewhat muted this year, if virtually non existent. Normally, at this time (around mid February), the whole population goes a bit … Continue reading
Monschau: A hidden gem in the Eifel
The old weaving town of Monschau is a real hidden gem tucked away in the Rur Valley within the Eifel Region to the South of Aachen. I love the old half timbered houses and the rambling streets of the old … Continue reading
Posted in Aachen & Euregio, History & Culture, In Europe, Uncategorized
Tagged Aachen, Eifel, Euregio, medieval architecture, Monschau, Red House
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Season of Mists
Autumn is my favourite time of year to be out and about exploring the woods, fields, moors and meadows of the surrounding countryside. As well as the vibrant red, gold and orange hues of wild cherry, maples, birches and beech, there are … Continue reading
Posted in Aachen & Euregio, In Europe, Trees & Greenspaces, Urbanism, Wild Places
Tagged autumn, autumn colours, biodiversity, birch, conkers, cultural landscapes, fly-agaric, foraging, Hohes Venn, mushrooms, norway maple, steuobstwiesen, street trees, sweet chestnuts, Urban Greenspace, urban trees, wild cherry, wild harvests
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Down in the Orchard
Over the last few weeks we’ve noticed a lot of fruit going unpicked in local orchards and decided eventually to do something about it. Today we knocked on the door of a local orchard owner who was only too happy … Continue reading
Posted in Aachen & Euregio, History & Culture, In Europe, Trees & Greenspaces
Tagged Aachen, ancient trees, apples, biodiversity, birds, cultural landscapes, fruit growing, healthy eating, invertibrates, local distinctiveness, local produce, nature conservation, orchards, organic produce, pears, sense of place, streuobstwiesen, sweet chestnuts
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A Harvest for the World
The sleepy German town of Walheim by Aachen this weekend celebrated its annual “Erntedank” or harvest festival. The Festival has its roots both in Christianity and in paganism and celebrates the annual autumn bounty of nature. The Walheim Fest has been growing over the … Continue reading
Posted in Aachen & Euregio, History & Culture, In Europe
Tagged Aachen, autumn, Erntedank, germany, Harvest festival, heavy horses, Seasonal festivals, vintage tractors
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Secrets of the Wild Wood
Like a scene from a distant lost world, the damp woods of the Inde valley between Hahn and Walheim hang with a mass of tangled ivy. Dead branches, rotten tree stumps and slippery, moss-covered rocks litter the ground, making for treacherous conditions underfoot. Ominous, … Continue reading
Posted in Aachen & Euregio, History & Culture, In Europe, Trees & Greenspaces, Wild Places
Tagged Aachen, ancient woodland, Blaustein, Bluestone, brophytes, Camperdown Elm, Devonian limestone, Eifel, Eifelsteig, Hahn, Inde, Konelimunster, Lime kilns, mosel, nature, nature conservation, outdoors, Raeren, saproxylic species, spirit of place, venwegen, Walheim, woodlands
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Charlemagne’s Warriors
A haunting spectacle could be viewed in recent days behind Aachen’s ancient octagonal cathedral; ranks of solemn, stately figures could be seen lined up in neat rows, oddly reminiscent of the terracotta Emperor’s Warriors or the Lewis Chessmen. The figures celebrate the 1,200th birthday of Charlemagne, the Dark Age … Continue reading
Off the Beaten Track 