A stones throw south of Bonn and on the southern edge of North Rhine-Westphalia sits the serene town of Meckenheim. Surrounded by agricultural land and woodland it is within the extensive Kottenforst-Ville Nature Park which hosts some rare wildlife and offers some extensive and scenic walking and cycling trails.
However, this town is not just surrounded by woods and trees — it is surrounded by roses and apple blossom!
This area is a highly productive region for fruits and roses of all types and is a real sight to behold through the spring and summer. There is even a main street in the old town here, that is known as The Fruit Mile for the endless stores selling their fresh goods!
There is plenty more to Meckenheim once you begin to explore, and the pedestrianized modern Neuer Markt leads you through squares and high streets to catch up on some retail passions! Although not the most historic location in the country, there is still plenty here for you to enjoy and you will certainly be offered a warm welcome throughout the year, especially during festivals and local events.
This settlement was historically an ancient fortified town with a protective double moat which can still be seen in parts. It is also home to the impressive Lüftelberg Schloss — which was also moated. Both are locations on the Wasserburgenroute (the Water Castle Tourist Route) which runs through this region exploring such delights across the country.
Another route to follow around Meckenheim would be that of the Roman Aquaduct from Eifel that ran over 100km from close to the French border all the way to Cologne. Although not complete today, there are many parts still visible and well worth a visit.
With well signposted locations and easy to access walking paths along its route, you may find the detailed information boards enlighten your family about this ancient engineering wonder that helped to build the great city as it is today.
