Where you can experience the Rhine meadows on a carriage ride

On the Rhine - enjoy the Auenblicke in the Urdenbacher Kämpe

Auenblick in the Urdenbacher Kämpe lure us on a carriage ride into the Rhine Valley in Nordrhein-Westfalen. “The water comes for three days, it stays for three days and it flows away again for three days.” This sentence from our coachman, Mr. Reuter from the Reuter cold-blooded breeding farm in Haus Bürgel in the Urdenbacher Kämpe on the Rhine, remains indelibly in my memory. On our #winterhappiness journey through Neanderland We visited the Rhine meadows near Monheim south of Dusseldorf. Mr. Reuter invited us to experience the Rhine meadows on a carriage ride through the nature reserve in the conurbation on the Rhine. We are leaving Erkrath through a region where one place stretches almost seamlessly to the other. All the more astonished we are, as we are shortly after Monheim suddenly in the midst of an original meadow landscape. A contrast that could not be bigger. The Shire surrounded by modern urbanity.

 

 

Experience the Rhine meadows on a carriage ride

Am House Bürgel, a former Roman fort that is today Grange, Roman Museum and Biological Station in one, we meet Mr Reuter. He is waiting for us with a two-horse carriage in front of the former mansion. The weather is for an 9. December sunny and cool. But it is not so cold that we need the provided blankets. As it rained the night before, our carriage ride goes through water-filled potholes on a dirt road. As we sit unusually high in our carriage, we cling to the sides of the carriage a little uncertainly. But we soon get used to the even swinging of the two-in-hand. Only if one of the potholes is too deep, we still grab hold of the side rails of our carriage seats.

 

 

That's how you live in the Urdenbacher Kämpe

Mr. Reuter proves to be a connoisseur of the floodplain landscape. No wonder, since he has lived here for years and experiences the regular flooding of the meadows. Every year the Rhine floods the Urdenbacher Kämpe, and Haus Bürgel, where Mr. Reuter breeds his cold-blooded animals, is right in the middle. He can tell us exactly how high the water has to rise to make Haus Bürgel an island. "At a level of ten meters above normal, the ground floor of the manor house is under water and we hope that the level will not rise any further," he tells us calmly from his coach goat.

 

 

When I asked how one can live with this constantly recurring threat, he laughed and said: “With good stocks and good nerves!” In the manor house of Haus Bürgel, the usable rooms for residents and users are only set up from the first floor. Here Mr. Reuter lives on the first floor, and this is also where the biological station, which is responsible for the Urdenbacher Kämpe, is located. The ground floor serves as a warehouse that is emptied if there is a risk of flooding. It's the same with the stables. Approach flood waves over Rhine and Mosel, the animals are housed in higher farms. “My four daughters spend the night with friends during the flood in order to be able to continue school. Then we stay here and pay attention to the yard and the surroundings. ”

 

 

 

 

Carriage ride through the Rhine meadows - Auenblicke to enjoy

However, we do not get anything from it. For us, the Rheinauen on a carriage ride to experience one thing above all: a one-hour leisurely drive through a landscape, as we have not yet met. Alluvial forests and plants, which only occur here, grow in these floodplains on the Rhine. We are on the road in the morning, while the winter sun throws a yellowish light through the fading mist.

This creates an unreal atmosphere. This is reinforced by the flora and fauna that we can observe from our seat on the carriage. A gray heron who looks at us as curiously as we look at him. Small birds that whir past us so quickly that we cannot recognize them. The giant Canadian poplar trees, which were planted here after the destruction of the Second World War to supply wood to a nearby match factory, look particularly spooky. This factory has now closed and there are no longer any buyers for the trees, which shed their branches and branches after a certain period of time. They stand like memorials in nature and give the floodplain landscape a mysterious character.

 

 

Slowly through the Rhine meadows

Our route through the Rhine meadows leads from Haus Bürgel past the floodplain forest and along the banks of the Rhine, from where we have a beautiful view of Zons on the other side of the Rhine. From there we turn into the Urdenbacher Kämpe and drive past orchards past meadows to Altrhein, the old riverbed of the Rhine. More than 50 different apple and pear varieties grow on these meadows, which also serve as pastures. In spring and summer, these meadows must be particularly beautiful: Meadowfoam, meadow button and Herbstzeitlose grow on it. We can still guess the beauty of autumn, the frost has not yet dropped the remains of autumn leaves from the trees. This enchanted landscape can also be explored on various hiking trails.

 

 

Urdenbach, a village suburb of Dusseldorf

Before Mr. Reuter drives us back to Haus Bürgel, he takes a short tour through Urdenbach, one of the southern suburbs of Düsseldorf. The village character of this place fits well with the landscape of the Rhine floodplains, and we can imagine what it once looked like when the urbanization of the region was not as advanced as it is today. We really enjoyed the excursion through the Rhine meadows on a carriage ride. This is an excursion that children are guaranteed to enjoy too.

More suggestions for Excursions in North Rhine-Westphalia with children is also available from the Phototravellers.

Have you ever been to the Urdenbacher Kämpe?

What did you like the most? For example, have you discovered a hiking trail that is worthwhile? Or have you been to a restaurant where you can eat well? Be sure to share your tips and recommendations with us in a comment. We're happy about it, and our readers will thank you too.

 

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Arrival by car, bus, train and ferry

S-Bahn and bus:

From the S-Bahn stops Hellerhof and Garath on foot in about 10 minutes.

By bus 788 from S-Bahn station Benrath and from bus station Monheim.

Ferries to Urdenbacher Kampe:

Rhine ferry Zons-Urdenbach (car and passenger ferry), all year, www.faehre-zons.de

Piwipper boats (people as well as bicycles), seasonal operation, www.piwipp-boot.de

Parking options in the Urdenbacher Kämpe:

At the exit of Dusseldorf-Urdenbach, Drängenburger Str.

Exit Monheim-Baumberg, Urdenbacher Weg

On the banks of the Rhine in Monheim-Baumberg, end Klappertorstr., Arriving via Hauptstr.

Camping Monheim-Baumberg, Urdenbacher way

Camper Rentals:

Compare motorhome prices here. Or do you prefer to travel with that instead? Rooftent or Tent?

Overnight accommodation near the Urdenbacher Kämpe:

You can book accommodation in Monheim here*

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Other Slow Travel Tips You can also find it here.

Source Urdenbacher Kämpe: own research on site. We would definitely like to thank you The Neanderland and North Rhine Westphalia Tourism for inviting me to this trip. However, as always, our opinion remains our own.

The article was updated on March 5.4.2024, XNUMX.

Text Urdenbacher Kämpe: © Copyright Monika Fuchs and TWO
Photos: © Copyright Monika Fuchs and TWO
Video: © Copyright Petar Fuchs and TWO