Ahr Valley Region

(Local Name: Ahrtal) Land: Rhineland-Palatinate

The Ahr valley (Ahrtal) in the northern Eifel is one of the most beautiful of the Rhine's tributary valleys. The river, 89km/55mi long, rises at Blankenheim and flows into the Rhine below Sinzig.

In the narrow valley nestle a succession of towns and villages - Altenahr, Mayschoss, Rech, Dernau, Marienthal, Walporzheim, Bachem and Ahrweiler.

The finest part of the valley is the romantic stretch between Altenahr and Bad Neuenahr-Ahrweiler, where the river forces its way in a winding course between rugged slate crags. Particularly impressive is the high rock face known as the Bunte Kuh at Walporzheim. The hills are crowned by ruined castles, and