The Romans were first to discover the therapeutic benefits of the Rhineland Palatinate's mineral springs. In the last century, czars and emperors came here to "take the waters". Today, modern and elegant health spas await to care for all your health, beauty, and fitness needs in a friendly and relaxed atmosphere.

The healing power of Bad Neuenahr’s thermal springs bestows health and happiness on people who experience here genuine relaxation of body and spirit!
On the banks of the tranquil Ahr River, the twin towns of Bad Neuenahr-Ahrweiler offer visitors the best of both worlds: an elegant spa resort whose healing waters have been sought out by dignitaries and royalty for centuries, and a dreamy medieval village where time has seemingly stood still. What both have in common is wine: the Ahr Valley is one of Germany's most famous red wine making regions.

When the Princess of Prussia and later German Empress inaugurated Bad Neuenahr's Augusta and Victoria Springs in 1858, she launched a tradition that has been honored ever since. The healing powers of the local thermal springs are legend, and they continue to bestow their gift of well-being and fitness to this day. In 1993, a state-of-the-art thermal bath, the Ahr-Thermen, opened, quickly garnering a reputation as one of the finest in Europe. You'll find here an entire environment perfect for relaxation and rejuvenation. Different saunas, solariums, a grassy area for sunning or unwinding, and indoor and outdoor pools — not to mention the overall peace and tranquility — make the Ahr-Thermen the perfect place to restore your energies.

In addition to the splendid baths, numerous facilities in town offer a complete 'menu' of therapies — from fitness training to nutritional counseling and the 'Eifel Fango' (herbal mudpack) — a regional specialty. Your program of mental and physical regeneration will be overseen by dedicated physicians whose goal is to provide the ultimate unity of body, mind and spirit.

Neighboring Ahrweiler beckons with its quintessential medieval character, which it owes to perfectly preserved town walls and lovingly maintained half-timbered houses. Yet there's nothing stuffy or museum-like about this lovely town. Its crafts shops, restaurants and celebrated wine taverns bustle with activity year-round. And as the home of the justly famed red wines of the River Ahr, Ahrweiler's fame grows with every new harvest.

As the song has it, "luck is a lady." And Lady Luck smiles broadly over the gaming tables and elegant salons of the renowned Bad Neuenahr Casino. Roll the dice, take a spin at the roulette wheel, seek your fortune at baccara and black jack, or go for the big payoff among an armada of slot machines. The fun never ends in Bad Neuenahr where fortune always smiles.

Bad Neuenahr-Ahrweiler is the very essence of Rhenish "joie de vivre". Festivals here are practically a way of life. In year-round events you'll discover the true and generous nature of the Ahr Valley's people. Make new friends at the raucous Ahr Valley Carnival. Witness the extravagant "Night of the 1000 Roses" in June. Join the townspeople in celebrating their history at the Ahrweiler Old Town Festival. Whenever you visit, you're sure to find a historical shooting festival (Schuetzenfest), a wine festival — or any other excuse to celebrate — just around the corner.

You'll feel welcome everywhere in elegant Bad Neuenahr or ancient Ahrweiler. But when wanderlust takes you, you'll also find a wealth of nearby excursions and attractions. The famous “Bridge at Remagen” is 20 minutes away, Cologne, with its amazing cathedral, is only a short ride away. And in Bonn, the exciting new Exhibition Hall of the Federal Republic of Germany should be on your must-see list. Also nearby are Maria Laach with its famous Romanesque abbey, the legendary Nürburgring motor racing track, and the formidable bulwarks of Ehrenbreitstein Castle in Koblenz. Go forth and discover! Then come "home" to Bad Neuenahr-Ahrweiler.

Sports are an important part of life in Bad Neuenahr-Ahrweiler. Golfing and tennis, hiking, cycling and mountain biking are just some of the fun activities you can pursue in our town. The adventurous can even take to the skies in gliders or to the water while canoeing down the Ahr (seasonal). And even if you're not yet a sports enthusiast, you may well become one during your stay with us.

Green Valley, Green Hills

The Ahr Valley is one of the Rhineland's loveliest, blessed with varied scenery that is a visual feast. Following the flow of the river, you'll travel through a nature preserve, fertile pasture lands, hilly woodlands and centuries-old vineyards clinging to steep and rugged hillsides. An excellent way to explore the exquisite charms of this valley is on foot. Trails include the 'Ahruferweg', which follows the banks of the river, and the 'Rotweinwanderweg', which winds through 35km of vineyards between Altenahr and Bad Bodendorf. Wine-growing here is an ancient tradition spanning back to the Romans who greatly valued the steep, sun-drenched slopes that flank the middle Ahr. Here you'll discover excellent red wines - such as the Spätburgunder (Pinot Noir) and the Portugieser (Portuguese) - and crisp white wines made from Riesling and Müller-Thurgau varietals. They are best enjoyed during our many wine festivals, especially those in Heimersheim, Bachem, Ahrweiler, Walporzheim, Dernau, Rech, Mayschoss and Altenahr. Mineral and thermal springs are also plentiful in the Ahr Valley. The Apollinaris spring and the spa town of Bad Neuenahr enjoy international acclaim. Neighboring medieval Ahrweiler, with its cobbled lanes and half-timbered houses, offers a delightful contrast to the stylish health resort with its elegant casino. In the upper Ahr region, you'll encounter dreamy villages and idyllic countryside perfect for camping.

The Eifel, one of the world's oldest mountain ranges, boasts green hills draped with endless forests and lush meadows. This gentle landscape was once the site of towering mountains that reached heights of 18,000 feet. Crystalline streams meander through the enchanting valleys of the Eifel where you'll enjoy - in countless tranquil villages - fresh air and plenty of welcoming cheer. You'll also find in the Eifel - in roaring contrast - the legendary Nürburgring, a mecca for high-performance motor sports. Below the jutting ruins of Nürburg castle, the finest machines from Porsche, BMW and Ferrari do mechanized battle in pursuit of world speed records. And you too can travel along the famous track. Dining is a delight throughout the region - whether at a charming 'Gasthof' (country inn) or a chic restaurant. Both trout and ham are Eifel specialties; the ham, in fact, was already considered a delicacy in ancient Rome. A good place to sample it is in the 1000-year-old town of Adenau, with its picturesque half-timbered houses, in the heart of the Eifel.

A Spirited German Tradition

With its six distinct wine growing regions — Rheinhessen, Pfalz, Moselle-Saar-Ruwer, Nahe, Middle Rhine and Ahr — the Rhineland-Pfalz is Germany's wine country extraordinaire. Around 60% of all German wines hail from here, a fact reflected as much in the lush landscape as it is in the friendly nature of its people.

Join them for a glass or two, in their cozy wine taverns, beneath the world's steepest vineyards, or at raucous wine festivals. The cuisine, from hearty regional specialties to gourmet indulgences, is a perfect complement to the wines. Most vintners invite you to their estates to sample the many varieties produced here, from crisp Rieslings to the exotic red Portuguese. Better yet, take a room at one of the estates and dream sweetly of the grapes ripening outside your window.

Superb Regional Cuisine

Superb cuisine and an historical atmosphere go hand in hand wherever you travel in Rhineland-Pfalz. Many restored castles and mansions, magnificent city palaces and historical houses have been transformed into temples of culinary pleasures, brimming with life and welcoming to all.

Menus change seasonally and may include such mouth-watering dishes as veal steak with fresh asparagus, tarragon sabayon and new potatoes. Another delicacy is fried quail in a raspberry vinegar sauce and served on a bed of autumn salad. For dessert, tuck into strawberries in rhubarb mousse, or caramel-crackle ice-cream sprinkled with homemade pralines. Fine wines, 'Sekt' (sparkling wine) and spirits from the Rhineland-Pfalz region are, naturally, the perfect accompaniment.