Ahr valley

The Ahr Valley (center Lahr )

The Ahr Valley, according to the Ahr, a left tributary of the Rhine, named. It starts with the Ahrquelle in Blankenheim in the district of Euskirchen (Nordrhein- Westfalen) and runs generally eastward. At its southernmost point is the circle Ahrweiler, Rhineland-Palatinate, and thus achieved. Through the association of municipalities Adenau extend the valley bends at the confluence with the Adenauer Bach to the northeast and reaches the community association Altenahr, from whose capital, the typical east-west course adjusts again, even if interrupted by river bends. Here is the section that is understood in the tourist sense as Ahr valley begins. It is characterized by vineyards on the southern slopes of the picturesque and rocky landscape, which has created in his 300 -meter deep cutting into the Ahrgebirge the river. Later in the Ahr reached the territory of the town of Bad Neuenahr- Ahrweiler, then joins south of Remagen in the field of city Sinzig into the Rhine.

Course

The upper Ahr

From the source of the Ahr valley runs in a rather hilly mountainous terrain with meadows, woods and isolated hamlets or Hofschaften. It is followed by the B 258 First significant towns are Ahrhütte and Ahrdorf that still belong to Blankenheim. The Ahr valley is then gradually narrower and reaches its southernmost point where it leaves North Rhine -Westphalia. Rhineland- Palatinate first place, above the valley, Dorsel. In Müsch the B 258 leaves the Ahr Valley, and the L 73 accompanies the still small river. From here on Antweiler until after Fuchshofen the valley runs almost north to from guilt about Insul to have in the course until after Dümpelfeld pretty much due east, where the B 257 is the new companion. Here, at the confluence with the influent from the south Adenauer Bach, aims to Ahr to the northeast, leaves the community association (VG ) Adenau and reaches south of the village belonging to Hönningen Liers VG Altenahr the territory of the middle Lahr.

The mean Ahr

From Hönningen about Ahrbrück, Pützfeld, Kreuzberg, Altenburg up to Altenahr the valley runs initially stretched northeast. From Ahrbrück joins the B 257 the Ahrtalbahn that follows the valley to the Rhine. In Altenahr the valley bends to the east and initially has an exceptionally tortuous course. Here the river is accompanied by the B 267, which does not, however, follows each loop. In Altenahr the largest Ahrschleife which is under protection because of their flora and fauna begins. From here the valley is a gorge cut by steep rocky slopes in the Ahrgebirge. From Reimerzhoven large areas wine production, especially on the north side of the river (ie, on the southern slopes ). In Laach the Ahr undergoes a further Talschlinge, then passed successively the type of wine Mayschoss, computing, and Dernau Marienthal and finally reached the territory of the town of Bad Neuenahr- Ahrweiler. The last bottleneck in the Ahr valley is below the Bunte Kuh, a rock formation which extends almost to the river and leaves little space for road and rail. In Walporzheim begins with the broad valley floor suddenly become the lower Ahr Valley.

The lower Ahr

Even the lower Ahr valley is dominated by viticulture. The Ahr touches the town centers of Ahrweiler, Bad Neuenahr, Heppingen and Heimersheim where the wine ends. The valley floor between the bathroom floor village on the northern edge and Sinzig on a valley terrace in the south is dominated by farming, and fruit and vegetable production. The mouth of the Ahr in the plane at Golden Mile Kripp again has an almost natural character and is a nature reserve ..

Economy

The Ahr Valley is known for its vineyards. Play a significant role for the regional tourism taking place from early September to late October wine festivals in the different wine varieties, especially in Altenahr, Mayschoss, computing, Dernau, Walporzheim, Ahrweiler and Heimersheim. The area and the further south Eifel are also known for mineral water, the iron-containing sources made ​​(eg, the Apollinaris source) Bad Neuenahr spa resort.

Tourism is a growing economic factor has been developed continuously. Benefit from it to a lesser extent the headwaters in Blankenheim, but mainly the area of the middle Ahr valley between Altenahr and Bad Neuenahr -Ahrweiler. The county seat is now found among the three strongest caution about Rhineland-Palatinate vacation spots. Among the municipalities situated on Ahrlauf is representative Dernau to mention - here the change from wine-growing village on the national holiday most clearly.

Culture and sights

Popular with walkers is the red wine hiking trail that winds its way from Altenahr to Bad Neuenahr through the vineyards and up bathroom floor village continues. From the confluence with the Ahr Sinzig the Ahr Cycle Route leads with slight inclines mostly along the River Ahr.

Other attractions include the Roman villa of Bad Neuenahr- Ahrweiler, an excavation of Roman settlement remains in Ahrweiler, right on the Red Wine Trail.

In Bad Neuenahr the Ahr valley is crossed by the striking Ahr bridge the A61. The completed in 1975, a total of 1.5 km long concrete bridge dominates with its 50 m high concrete pillars that part of the valley.

During the Cold War the Ahr valley was provided as a safe place for the central federal bodies in the defense case: In the vineyards near Marienthal, in an area of ​​Dernau to Bad Neuenahr- Ahrweiler, hid himself from 1962, the now largely back -built government bunker in March 2008 as a documentation site of the Cold War, the public was first made available.

Transport and Infrastructure

From Remagen from the Ahrtalbahn leads first two, single track from Walporzheim up to Ahrbrück. The further sections are shut down.