Ahr Rhine Eifel - the "green lungs" of Germany

The Ahr Rhine Eifel region is a verdant area of upland scenery in western Germany, tucked away between the Ahr and Rhine rivers. The landscape has been shaped by volcanic activity and is dominated by the romantic Rhine Valley, the steep vineyard terraces of the Ahr valley with its bizarre rock formations and the impressive mountain panorama of the Eifel. This is where some of Germany's best red wines are produced and the international motor racing elite battle it out at the Nürburgring circuit. Above all, visitors come here to enjoy nature at its best walking along the breezy hilltops and through the deeply carved valleys.

A small town with two centres and one spring - Bad Neuenahr-Ahrweiler
Bad Neuenahr-Ahrweiler is situated amid the vineyards of the Ahr valley. The hallmark of the town are its two centres, which could not be more different from each other and yet form a charming and harmonious blend of the old and the new. Celts, Teutons, Romans, Counts, archbishops and the French have all left their mark on Ahrweiler. The romantic timber-framed houses are surrounded by a completely intact medieval town wall. The town's main attractions include the Wolffsches House, a half-timbered building dating from 1621 with an ornately decorated bay window and Blankartshof House dating from 1680. The market square is dominated by the Rhineland's first early-Gothic hall church, the Church of St. Lawrence, and the old town hall from the late rococo period.

Discover the unique ambience of the spa facilities in Bad Neuenahr with their Apollinaris mineral water, charming art nouveau houses and elegant casino.

Remagen on the Rhine is also well worth a visit. The town started out as an old Roman fort 2,000 years ago. Today, it is primarily known for the Bridge at Remagen, a railway bridge built over the Rhine during the First World War, whose capture in 1945 by American troops was an important event of the Second World War.

From volcanic activity to leisure activity
The Eifel is still a volcanically active region. This fascinating geological phenomenon is reflected in the large number of crater lakes, also known as maars. The largest of these is Lake Laach. The majority of these maars are filled with water, although some consist solely of marshland. In the summer, you can swim in the maars, go pedal boating or simply walk around the lakes and admire the enchanting scenery.

The raciest place in Germany - the Nürburgring
Set in the heart of the region's idyllic hilly country, the Nürburgring is one of the most famous racetracks in the world. Famous Formula 1 drivers regularly set new lap records on this Grand Prix track. The Nürburgring is home to the world's longest permanent Grand Prix circuit as well as an exhibition and leisure park on the theme of motor sports. One of the world's biggest rock festivals also takes place here every year. Around 150,000 fans flock here every June to see about a hundred international bands perform over the course of a weekend.

A glass of burgundy with a hearty meal
Aware of the Ahr valley's potential as a winegrowing region, the Romans settled here between the Eifel and the Rhine and planted the first grape vines. Today, the Ahr valley is one of Germany's top red wine-producing areas. Ahr wine growers are at the forefront of red wine making in Germany. But being at the top of your game has its price. They have to work long and hard in some of the most extreme conditions. With only 530 hectares under vine, the Ahr is one of Germany's smallest wine-growing regions. In order to maintain such high quality standards, the wine-growers often have to clamber through rugged fissures in the rocks to get to extremely steep sites where there are sometimes only a few vines growing and the use of machinery is impossible. The result is fantastic. The spätburgunder (pinot noir) and frühburgunder (a pinot noir mutation) from the Ahr valley are very highly regarded in the international market. To accompany the wine, the region offers an incredible selection of hearty fare such as Neuenahrer Rauchfleisch (thin strips of smoked beef), Kökjeszupp (a delicious traditional bean soup) and Döppekoche (a potato flan with bacon). And there's plenty more sophisticated cuisine on offer too. The region's amazing wines are served in a number of top restaurants and at gourmet events along with a culinary symphony of international haute cuisine.