Remagen Things to Do

The 2006-opened Arp museum is Remagen's only tourist attraction that can be rated first-class, that is to say, it is definitely worth coming for. The Arp is actually a very interesting building complex consisting of the lower building which is the former Rolandseck railway station and a newly built upper building designed by the famous architect Richard Meyer. As in Meyer's Getty Museum in Los Angeles, he has done an extremely good job in enhancing through his architecture an already spectacular location inbetween lush trees high above the Rhine valley. Hans Arp was a Dadaist painter, poet and sculptor. The upper complex permanently houses some of his works and hosts a number of other exhibitions of modern artists each year. The lower railway station building currently hosts the splendid Rau collection and contains the upscale Bistro Nr. 253, where you can have an artsy cup of coffee.

Although there are some absolute masterpieces in the Rau collection, in my opinion the best thing actually is the building complex itself. The combination between landscape and architecture is hard to beat -- a Neuenschwanstein palace for art lovers!

The entire complex is completely wheelchair-acessible. Good job!

Oberwinter is arguably the most beautiful village that is incorporated into the city of Remagen. About 5 km downstream from Remagen proper, Oberwinter enjoys an even more spectacular setting as from this bend in the Rhine valley there are wonderful views towards the Seven Hills range (Siebengebirge) just south of Bonn. Aside from one of the largest privately owned marinas, Oberwinter features a small pretty main street with a couple of good cafes and restaurants. The valley slope is less interesting to the tourist as it is dotted with affluent private properties.

Remagen has a long stretch of river promenade. As a matter of fact, the paved riverside walk- and bike path continues endlessly both north towards Bonn and south towards Koblenz. In downtown Remagen, the promenade offers one or two restaurants with outside seating and a great view across the river towards the town of Erpel and the cliff "Erpeler Ley". A passenger ferry allows people to explore both banks of the Rhine. In Remagen, the downtown promenade stretch looks a bit deserted -- this is the result of two disastrous floodings in 1993 and 1995. A lot of businesses had to close down after the second inundation and the promenade is still far from full recovery, although house after house is being renovated now. You can still see the water marks on some house facades. Scary.

The tourist boats call at Remagen, this is especially useful for those to use Remagen in order to take the train into the Ahr valley. In doing so, it is possible to do combined Rhine and Ahr valley tours -- both valleys have great hiking and biking paths.

The river valley becomes quite nice north of Remagen with lovely views of the town of Unkel and the distant Drachenfels near Bonn. Following the Rhine path into this river bend is highly recommended!

The broadened valley section around the river Ahr with the towns of Remagen and Sinzig is called "the golden mile", probably pertaining to its fertile soil. Geologically, it is actually a small tectonic depression, just like the much bigger valley section around Koblenz. The best view over the Golden Mile and across the river towards the hills of the Hohe Eifel can be enjoyed from the Erpeler Ley, the eye-catching crag behind the WWII-bridge pylons. The top of the Erpeler Ley is nearly flat, and you can drive up to it with your car -- the signposted access route leaves the B 42 in Erpel near the bridge pylons. There are also a couple of nice signposted hiking trails. A restaurant and beer garden caters for the hungry and thirsty sightseer. Thanks to its flatness, the Erpeler Ley is quite accessible for wheelchair users, it doesn't really look like it when you look at it from the valley!

The lower part of a small temple up to the level of the bases of the columns is present. Also a partially reconstructed (from fragments) of a funeral memorail. In a corner is a reconstructed smaller tomb reminiscent of Etruscan or other preChristian era tombs (I think). All of the findings are diligently displayed and make for a surprising and pleasant visit.

There are several pieces or fragments of religious figures that have been uncovered and displayed in various sites along the exhibit. Funeral figures, an imperial head,reliefs of Godesses, a small sheep (probably an offering)

There are several pieces or fragments of religious figures that have been uncovered and displayed in various sites along the exhibit. Funeral figures, an imperial head,reliefs of Godesses, a small sheep (probably an offering)

The upstairs (Gallery) of the museum is devoted to craft items especially ceramics and a good collection of early Roman glass including blown, blow-moulded and decorated items. There are votive heads, figurine and oil lamps.Apparently the invaders lived as luxuriously as they could.

The museum automatically divides itself into 3 level. The entry level leading into the apse, a raised gallery at the opposite end, and a lower level partly beneath that arranged to hold an old Roman foundation exhibit. The apse windows are high in the walls and leaves plenty of room for the exhibits below. The cahpel is a 16C ribbed Gothic vaulting with the ribs ending in brackets decorated with fine figures. Along one wall is a fine carved stone niche which serves as a case for a small Roman statue.

The Museum is in a neatly restored and maintained 16C chapel of the old monastery. Further down the block is a church with ancient sections and a gate of an earlier date. The chapel has tree levels and different parts of the collection are on each level. A detailed visit should take about 1/2 hour, inclding time to look at the chapel fixtures. The materials are in glass cases and a handout is given, The labels are only in German. The caretaker arrived precisely at 3PM.

The museum is a simple collection of artefacts and original photographs relating to the bridge and the activities surrounding its creation, destruction, and the consequences of the war upon Remagen. It is arranged by period and subject with a handout (containing a map of the exhibits). Through the slit-like windows (glassed) there are views of the Rhine. Pictures of the local scene brings home the otherwise invisible accompanying ravages of war, that the heroic aspects overshadow in our memory.

The museum is housed in a building that incorporates the two massive towers of the bridge on the West Bank. It faces two stark towers that are all that remain on the East Bank. A fragment of a ramp is preserved and a modern monument to Peace has been erected. There is parking up the bank above near the road from town and the Promenade leads to the Museum as well.

The apse and stairs contain the evidences of the Roman hegemony and organization. There are regal statues, remains of the stockade, stone notices and pieces of iron-work (spearheads,etc)