It's pretty dark here, isn't it! It's quite possible that you can't see your hand in front of your eyes at night in the High Fens-Eifel Nature Park. Because there is hardly any other region in Germany with as little (artificial) light as here. However, the stars in the sky shine all the brighter, so that in good weather you can even see the Milky Way with the naked eye. The SternenGuides will explain to you what else shines and twinkles up there, how you can recognize the Big Dipper and the Little Bear, on night tours through the Eifel Star Landscape. The trained nature and landscape guides of the nature park project "Under the canopy of stars - Eifel by night" also know why darkness at night is particularly important for animals and why too much artificial light destroys their habitats. For this reason alone, no one should set off alone at night through the forests in the German-Belgian border region between Aachen and the districts of Euskirchen and Düren. However, there are designated trekking sites in the nature park, which incidentally includes the Eifel National Park, where you can pitch your tent legally and spend the night during your wilderness trail after prior registration. Binoculars or a telescope are therefore a must in your hiking rucksack.
Eifel views
When the morning dawns ... you will also discover the many other special features that characterize the High Fens-Eifel Nature Park. The landscape is characterized by raised bogs such as the "High Fens" (on the Belgian side), numerous rivers, lakes and reservoirs as well as forested mountain heights, which attracts hikers in particular to the Eifel. The most famous route is the 313-kilometre Eifelsteig, which leads through a wide variety of landscapes such as the limestone, high and volcanic Eifel under the motto "Where rock and water accompany you". Along the way, you can't help but take a break from time to time, even if you still had enough energy to walk a few more kilometers. But the "Eifel views", a whole series of signposted platforms and viewing towers along the hiking routes, offer 360 panoramas of the Eifel landscape as you may never have seen it before. And even if you don't have reception on your smartphone, the camera is guaranteed to work ...
By the way, your eyes will turn yellow when you set off towards the Olef, Perlenbach and Fuhrtsbach in spring. The High Fens Nature Park is famous for its wild and romantic daffodil valleys with millions of yellow flowers. The most beautiful way to experience this splendor is on a hike along the approximately twelve-kilometre-long daffodil route, which starts as a circular route in the pretty Eifel half-timbered town of Monschau.
ClimateTour Eifel
And if you want to know how climate-friendly you are in the Eifel, you can measure your CO2 consumption yourself. Some time ago, the High Fens-Eifel Nature Park launched the "KlimaTour Eifel" initiative to raise awareness of sustainable nature experiences. Among other things, it provides tips for a climate-friendly journey by public transport and knows hosts who, for example, value regional products and where you are in good hands.
