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Germany

North Rhine-Westphalia

Königsforst Forest Trails

Discover
Places to see

Germany

North Rhine-Westphalia

Königsforst Forest Trails

Königsforst Forest Trails

Recommended by 715 hikers out of 737

This Highlight is in a protected area

Please check local regulations for: Naturpark Bergisches Land

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    Location: North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany

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    Best Hikes to Königsforst Forest Trails

    4.7

    (210)

    722

    hikers

    1. Königsforst Forest Trails – Kneipp water-treading spot at the Giesbach loop from Rath

    16.4km

    04:17

    120m

    Intermediate hike. Good fitness required. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.

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    Intermediate

    4.6

    (67)

    290

    hikers

    2. Königsforst Forest Path – Königsforst Forest Trails loop from Rath

    13.4km

    03:29

    80m

    Intermediate hike. Good fitness required. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.

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    Intermediate

    4.8

    (55)

    212

    hikers

    3. Königsforst Forest Trails – Kneipp water-treading spot at the Giesbach loop from Rath

    12.8km

    03:22

    110m

    Intermediate hike. Good fitness required. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.

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    Intermediate

    Tips

    August 7, 2021

    This forest is really like something out of a movie set, totally mystical and it saved me from a shower today

    Translated by Google •

      August 11, 2021

      Wide paths created for hikers and cyclists.

      Not always right for everyone.

      Translated by Google •

        April 6, 2024

        On the history of the Königsforst:

        "The traces of early settlement in the Königsforst can be traced back to the 6th or 7th century BC. Numerous burial mounds from this period are known. The burial mound fields east of Rath-Heumar are of particular cultural and historical importance.

        Since the Middle Ages, the Königsforst was a protected forest (a piece of forest preserved as a whole), which was initially owned by the Frankish kings. At that time, special royal hunting rights applied there. Around the turn of the first millennium AD, Otto the Great bequeathed the Königsforst to his brother, the Archbishop of Cologne.

        From the 12th century onwards, the area gradually came under the control of the Counts of Berg. Since then, the Königsforst has been used for hunting by the Dukes of Berg. During secularisation (confiscation of church property), the forest then became the complete property of the Grand Duchy of Berg.

        When Napoleon occupied the Rhineland at the beginning of the 19th century, large areas of the Königsforst was cleared. The wood of old oaks in particular was a sought-after material, which was transported to France in large quantities. When the Königsforst area was transferred to the Kingdom of Prussia shortly afterwards by the provisions of the Congress of Vienna in 1815, the clearing was stopped and large areas were reforested with pine trees.

        In the 18th and 19th centuries, mining was also carried out in numerous places in Königsforst. Lead, non-ferrous metals, iron ore, copper, zinc and tin were mined here in particular. The most well-known mining sites in the Cologne city area were the Löwenherz, Copernicus and Quirin mines.

        During the Second World War, the forest was largely inaccessible to the population because it was used as a military training area. The remaining fortifications have since been gradually reclaimed by nature. Due to the ongoing natural succession, the structures are now barely recognizable." CONTINUATION and MORE INFORMATION: stadt-koeln.de/artikel/71314/index.html

        Translated by Google •

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          Elevation 70 m

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          Friday 26 September

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          Max wind speed: 7.0 km/h

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          Location: North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany

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