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Top 10 Little Known Facts about Monschau, Germany

Monschau is a town in western Germany, near the Belgian border. It’s known for its medieval centre, with half-timbered houses and narrow cobblestone streets. Looming over the town is the turreted Monschau Castle that at times hosts open-air concerts. The Red House, the 1752 home of a wealthy cloth manufacturer, includes lavish period furnishings and a carved, winding oak staircase. Trails traverse nearby Eifel National Park.

The city originated around 1195 and takes its name from the castle situated on a mountain spur above the Rur River. It is mentioned for the first time in 1198 as Mons Ioci and then in 1217 as Munioie and as Monjoje in 1226.

Monschau seems like a place where time seems to have stood still for over three centuries. It is the cultural hub of the Eifel area and a great base for exploring the fascinating wilderness of the Eifel. Monschau’s romantic lanes, beautiful timbered houses and medieval walls make it the perfect place for a quiet, restful holiday.  Below are the top 10 little-known facts about Monschau, Germany.

1. Monschau Timbered houses look like they’ve been Lifted from a Storybook

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Monschau is a small town in the German Eifel. Time has stood still in this enchanting place for over three centuries. The village is considered the cultural centre of the Eifel and is the ideal starting point to explore the fascinating wilderness of the area.

Monschau is breathtaking. It’s a leading contender for one of Germany’s toughest titles: most picturesque town. With all the half-timbered treasures that dot the country, you know the town must be really something when even we Germans vote it to the top of the must-see lists!

Many German old towns are famous for their timbered houses, where the wooden beams show, and are painted in lovely, contrasting colours. You will be compelled  to pause at every lane in Monschau to capture the old houses and shops lined on either side.

2.  Monschau is home to Felsenkeller Microbrewery & Museum

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This 150-year-old brewery welcomes beer lovers from all over the world! A must-visit for those who fancy German beer.

For more than 150 years, people have brewed the Felsenkeller beer in Monschau. During the tour, you will learn about beer breweries. Make a point of visiting the Felsenkeller, which was dug into the mountain in 1830. In this underground cellar, the beer was kept cold during a time when there were no refrigerators. In the Brauhaus, you will enjoy a delicious beer.

Practical Information

Address: St. Vither-Str. 20-28 , Monschau, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany 52156

Phone: +49 (0)2472 / 3018

Hours:  Saturday-Sunday 11:00am-6:00pm

Brewer: Bernhard Thießen, Michael Jov

3. Marvel at the Stunning Carving of Troistorff Haus

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Visit the half-timbered house with a marvellous carving of a huge tree with cyan leaves on its front. It was built in 1783 following the model of a townhouse fit for nobility for the cloth manufacturer, M.P.W. Troistorff.

In moving with the times, the half-timbered house was plastered and decorated with ornamentation. Rich carvings in the doors with supraports and artistic wrought-iron works in the bannister and balcony railing testify to the splendour and prosperity of the inhabitants. The skillfully moulded windows shine like an Advent calendar during the Advent season

The stately house is a choice venue for weddings. It was not open when we visited, but we enjoyed climbing the wrought-iron staircase to get a closer look at its ornaments.

Practical Information

Address: Laufenstraße 18, 52156 Monschau, Germany

4. Monschau Sand Sculptures are Some of the Most Fascinating in the World

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Discover the wonderful world of sand sculptures. Whether people, buildings or traditions, they are made and designed from more than 1,000,000 kg of sand. In the end, real works of art are created from weeks of work. You can admire these works of art in the wool factory in Monschau.

The sand sculptures is a great experience that will arouse the interest of any visitor. Around 1000 tons of sand and the hands of 20 professional sand carvers were needed to build the sand sculptures. They achieved a result that you have not seen before.

Practical Information

Phone: +49 2472 912535

Address: Burgau 15, 52156 Monschau, Germany

Opening Hours: Tuesdays to Sundays 10:00 am – 5:00 pm       

                                Closed on Monday

5. Monschau has its own Glass Blowing Factory

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The glass blowing and the accompanying museum is another hidden gem worth visiting. In the glass blower factory, you can see how glass is blown with old-fashioned craftsmanship. It is interesting to see what can be made of glass; glasses, plates, vases and various works of art. In the museum,  glassware is exhibited.

This art whose crafting techniques have been preserved to this day has its origin in the Roman Empire. Learn how a glowing mass consisting of sand, potash and lime can emerge into a sparkling vessel or a lovely glass figurine through skillful drawing, pinching and blowing.

You can visit our glassworks with our large exhibit space and sales area year-round. Glass stove demonstrations take place daily at the following times: 10:15, 11:15, 12:15, 13:45, 14:45, 15:45 and 16:45.

6. The Red House gives a Glimpse of 18^th Century Domestic Life

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In the city centre, on Scheiblerplatz, there is a really magnificent building: the Red House.  It owes its name to the colour. Built by the cloth manufacturer Johann Heinrich Scheibler around 1760 it shows various different epochs of upper-class domestic life.

The house was not only used as a family residence but also housed the offices and storage rooms, not forgetting the cellar with its scouring and dying rooms and their rinsing channels.

Even today, the museum reflects the styles of the 18th century. In the early 20th century, it reflected Rococo, Louis-Seize and Empire. Admire the gentlemen’s room with its precious canvas wallpaper.  The kitchen with shiny brass and copper boilers, the salon with Aachen-Lüttich writing cabinets, the showcases, the ballroom and much more.

Not to be forgotten is the world-famous three-storey spiral staircase made of oak wood, which is reminiscent of the manufacture of cloth through various stations.

Practical Information

Phone: +49 2472 5071

Address: Laufenstraße 10, 52156 Monschau, Germany

Opening Hours: Tue – Sat       10am–1pm, 2–5pm          Closed on Monday

7.  The Amazing Historical Mustard Mill in Monschau

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Monschau is also famous for its historic mustard mill, the Senfmühle. You can enjoy a 40-minute guided tour and also choose between 19 varieties of mustard for purchase.

Mustard is still being manufactured in this 4th-generation owned family business which dates back more than 100 years. Originally powered by a water wheel, the mill has undergone some changes but still sports the old belt transmission and is now open for public viewing.

Practical Information

Address: Laufen Stress 116, 52156 Monschau, Germany

8. Monschau’s Christmas Season Weekend Markets

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During the Christmas season, there is a cosy Christmas market every weekend in Monschau city centre. There are several attractive Christmas stalls and you can buy all the typical Christmas market products. Warm Glühwein is also abundant. In normal times, the Monschau Christmas Market is typically open on the four Advent weekends leading up until Christmas.

Visit one of the best Christmas markets in Germany – the Christmas market in Monschau. Find out why the Monschau Christmas market is the cutest German Christmas market. Try local Christmas specialities.

Practical Information

Opening Hours: Saturdays            11 am to 9 pm   Sundays                11 am to 8 pm

9.  Take the Panorama road for stunning views of Monschau

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Many articles will tell you that the best views of Monschau are from Monschau Castle (Burg Monschau) but that is simply not true. The view you get from the summit of the Panorama way will leave you breathless and make you truly glad to be alive. The climb to the top is not too tough and takes around 15 to 20 minutes. The summit is fairly large, and there are benches for sitting down.

Go around and take in the sight of the town’s churches, buildings, river, castle and surrounding hills. Wildflowers blooming on the ridge make for a wonderful frame. Don’t leave without taking photos for your memories later.

10.  Monschau had a Castle

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The castle was built in the 13th century and years later it was walled. Since 1543 it was the castle of Emperor V until the French took it and sold the castle. The new owner was unable to maintain the castle and therefore it became a ruin.

After the First World War, there was new life blown into the castle because it became a youth hostel. Now it is a beautiful castle to visit. In the summer the castle is used for concerts and opera.

The town itself is quite a hidden gem surrounded by major cities like Cologne, Düsseldorf, and Aachen. Each and every single alleyway offers a new hidden gem as you surround yourself with crooked timbered houses, cats lounging in the windows, and the sound of church bells going off in the distance.