The Top Things to See and Do in Bad Munstereifel, Germany

City Outlet is Bad Münstereifel’s fashion mile. What appeals to shoppers and sets it far apart from other shopping streets is its historic setting. Almost all the shops in this stretch are housed in historic buildings lining cobbled alleys, which add unique charm to the shopping experience. You can expect to find apparel, shoes, books, home decor items, furnishing, chocolates, and lots more. It’s common to hit upon great deals at the city outlet. To top off your shopping, grab a meal at one of the many quaint cafés and restaurants.

Burg Bad Münstereifel was built in the 13th century and has been through wars and destruction in its lifetime. The refurbished castle is today privately owned and consists of several luxury apartments. There is also a nice restaurant housed in the castle. From here, you can enjoy lovely views of the town.

Much of Bad Münstereifel’s ancient city walls, dating back to the 13th century, have been preserved in their original condition, and the walls almost completely surround the city. The city walls are punctuated by several gates, the most significant among which are Werther Tor, Johannistor, Orchheimer Tor, and Heisterbacher Tor.

A monasterial chapel from the year 830 used to stand where St. Chrysanthus and Daria Church exists today, the latter having been rebuilt in the site of the former edifice in 1100. This makes the church the oldest structure in town. The church is known for its beautiful and very well-preserved romanesque westwork.

The construction of Romanisches Haus can be dated back to 1167, making it the second-oldest building in town and one of the oldest in the entire Rhineland. The building houses a museum showcasing a dining room from the imperial period (approximately 1900), medieval weaponry, a chapel, and a wide range of archeological artifacts from various eras.

While strolling the Bad Münstereifel old town, you can’t miss the Rathaus (city hall), as it stands out because of its bright-red color. The oldest sections of the Rathaus date back to the 14th century, while the building itself was completed in 1476. The area around the Rathaus is the liveliest part of town and has many shops, restaurants, and cafés.

For as many as 29 years, Radioteleskop Effelsberg enjoyed the status of being the largest fully steerable radio telescope in the world, until it was beaten by the slightly bigger Robert C. Byrd Green Bank Telescope in the USA. This telescope observes pulsars, star formation, black hole matters, faraway galaxies, cold gas and dust clusters, radio emissions, and magnetic fields. Be prepared for a long walk from the car park to the visitor center. There is a café and souvenir shop nearby, and a hiking trail just past the telescope.