Alfter between local history, culture and landscape
Accommodation in Alfter
Historic town centers, vegetable fields and the vast forests of Kottenforst shape Alfter. The area also has traces of its history of wine growing and clay mining, a cultural trail, museums and event venues. When planning your trip, you can choose from several themes to help guide your accommodation search: local history, art and technology, or the landscape and regional specialties.
Local history and public art
The Alfter Cultural Trail runs right through the town of Alfter. Modern and historic buildings, old wayside crosses, monuments and modern sculptures created by students and staff at Alanus University stand close together along the route. Gielsdorf’s old town center, with its half-timbered houses, is also one of the local sights; examples can be found on Blechgasse, Kirchgasse and Prinzgasse. Other sights mentioned in the area include the Gielsdorf water tower, Auf der Heide and St. James’ Parish Church.
Until the late 19th century, Gielsdorf was a thriving wine-growing village. Another historical trace is clay mining in Witterschlick and Volmershoven, which dates back to 1880. The two stories offer different perspectives: wine growing in a former village on the one hand, and a long tradition of clay extraction in two districts on the other.
The House of Alfter History is a museum with exhibits and everyday objects from more than 2,000 years of regional history. Anyone interested in everyday life in the past can explore it here from a different angle than on the Cultural Trail, which focuses on architecture, monuments and sculptures.
Witterschlick station: rail, signal box and events
Witterschlick station is an S-Bahn stop on the Bonn–Euskirchen railway line. Before your trip, check the transport operator’s information service for current connections and service updates. The station also houses a privately run signal box museum. The signal box equipment is fully operational and connected to a model railway.
The former goods shed at the station is now used for cultural events and private celebrations. Tours for visitors are held there on Open Monument Day; groups can book tours on request. These offerings are subject to the stated conditions, which should be taken into account when planning.
Landscape and regional specialties
In Alfter, historic town centers alternate with varied vegetable fields and the vast forests of Kottenforst. The Kottenforst nature reserve lies west of Impekoven. Asparagus and Rebellenblut, a blackberry wine, are among Alfter’s specialties. Together, these themes show different sides of the destination: established townscapes, an agricultural landscape and regional food culture.
When looking for a holiday apartment in Alfter, you could first consider which themes you want to shape your trip. If local history and architecture are your main interests, Gielsdorf and the Cultural Trail offer relevant points of interest. Witterschlick is a distinct point of interest for the history of technology and cultural events. If you are more interested in the landscape and regional specialties, you can take these aspects into account when planning your itinerary.
Alfter within the wider destination of Rhein-Sieg-Kreis
The 124-kilometer Apple Route also passes through Alfter; other stops include Bornheim, Swisttal, Rheinbach, Meckenheim and Wachtberg. The route can also be explored via six loop trails. This places Alfter within a broader regional context without equating the different towns or overlooking their individual characteristics.
Discover more destinations: Sankt Augustin, Rheinbach, Hennef, Wachtberg, Bad Honnef Am Rhein, Bornheim, Ruppichteroth, Windeck
Go to the overview of the wider destination: Rhein-Sieg-Kreis.
