Forest, water and wilderness in the Eifel National Park
Deep blue lakes and rivers, babbling brooks, wide reservoirs, wooded mountain ranges, wild daffodils and orchids - the Eifel National Park covers an area of around 110 square kilometers in the middle of the transnational Hohes Venn Eifel Nature Park. At times it is rugged and wild, at others delicate and filigree. There are many facets to this large protected area.
It is the first and so far only national park in North Rhine-Westphalia. Nature is allowed to develop here - largely without human intervention. Over millions of years, the elements have created an enchanting landscape in which nature can return to its own cycle of growth and decay. Primeval forests can re-emerge, as certain core zones are off-limits. Other areas are freely accessible, and a large network of cycling and hiking trails runs through the protected area, allowing visitors to enjoy the pristine nature .
This pristine and secluded environment is an excellent habitat for many plants and animals: a total of 10,960 species have been recorded in the Eifel National Park, more than 2,300 of which are endangered species. The wildcat creeps quietly through the forests, the warbler - a species of grasshopper - probably has its largest occurrence in the country in the national park, the high moorland fritillary butterfly needs very special plants on which to lay its eggs, and orchid lovers will find many different species of wild orchids.
All the senses are stimulated: The scent of the old beech forests pampers your nose, your fingers feel the freshness of the water and your eyes relax as you look out over the Rur, Obersee and Urftsee reservoirs. At night, when it is no longer really dark in the cities, the stars twinkle in the Eifel sky. Light pollution is so low here that the Eifel National Park is home to the International Star Park was created in the Eifel National Park. It was designated as the first "International Dark Sky Park" in Germany. On clear nights, not only the Milky Way can be seen with the naked eye, but also the constellations that have always fascinated us humans.
Every season has its own special features, its own charm. In spring, millions of heads of the smallwild daffodils into the air and form a sea of yellow flowers. In May, the broom flowers bathe the Dreiborn plateau in a rich yellow. In summer, the old forests beckon as the leaves form a cooling canopy and the water in the streams and lakes cools your feet. In autumn, when the leaves of the trees turn into a spectacular play of colors, the deer rut is a special experience. And in winter, when snow covers the landscapes and the cold temperatures create icicles and hoar frost, a homely peace spreads, inviting you to take a leisurely stroll through the tranquil natural surroundings.
National park rangers guide guests through the Eifel National Park and tell exciting stories about the many plants and animals that feel at home here. On their tours, they talk about the black stork and the eagle owl, the beaver that builds castles and take you to breathtaking viewpoints such as the Hirschley - 180 meters above the Rur reservoir. If you still want to know more, visit one of the national park gatesor the adventure exhibition Wildnis(t)räume at the Eifel National Park Centerat the "International Place" Vogelsang IP.
