Geilenkirchen Travel Guide

Right by my house is a historic steam locomotive, which offers rides throughout most of the year. They have a special Christmas train, and it generally runs from the spring through the fall. A great place to take kids!

Sometimes the train hosts special events as well, including food at the restaurant by the train station in Schierwaldenrath. This is a very popular activity in the local area.

The train runs between Schierwaldenrath and Gillrath - both very close to Geilenkirchen.

Barkenhof is a shop located in the centuries-old home of Olaf and Elke Barken (in Saeffelen, not far from Geilenkirchen)...they live upstairs and the downstairs is a gorgeous boutique where you can get wonderful gourmet foods, coffee, wine, tea, and bath products that Olaf and Elke handpicked on their travels all around the world. They are wonderful people and very well educated on all their products. Olaf could sell snow to the eskimos! He's truly charming and hilarious, and he believes in the health benefits and quality of everything he sells.

Come hungry. They will feed you. In addition to cheeses and proscuitto, they will let you sample their olive oils and aged balsamic vinegars, as well as their wines.

What to buy: I particularly love their chocolate covered espresso beans, but have been very happy with everything I have bought here. Their olive oils are truly top notch. Their balsamic vinegars are so good, you can drink them straight from the bottle (that's no lie!).

What to pay: Because the stuff is such high quality, you should expect to pay accordingly. It is well worth it though.