On the northeastern edge of Geilenkirchen stands Trips Castle, a moated castle in the Wurm Valley. Despite alterations in the 18th century, its core has retained its fortified character. Together with the Wurm, Teverener Heide and the city’s historic sites, the castle gives Geilenkirchen a character that brings together an interest in nature and culture.
The Wurm and the heath
Geilenkirchen stretches along both sides of the Wurm, from Teverener Heide in the west to the waterways between Beeck and Immendorf in the east. Teverener Heide is a protected landscape with four ancient peatland complexes and more than 40 recorded dragonfly species. The nature reserves of Große Heide and Panneschopp are part of the area. One seasonal highlight is cross-leaved heath, which you can see there in July and August.
Wurmauenpark also offers a specific place to go for a different kind of activity. Its dirt-bike facility includes two table lines of varying heights and difficulty levels, as well as a smaller fun-ride area. The table lines differ in height and difficulty.
Hiking trails in the wider Heinsberg destination
The wider Heinsberg destination provides a regional context for the local nature attractions. Teverener Heide covers 450 hectares and is a nature reserve spanning parts of the municipality of Gangelt and the towns of Geilenkirchen and Übach-Palenberg. Four circular hiking trails lead through the area: the Moor Loop is 5.8 kilometres long, the Heath Loop 6 kilometres, the Lakes Loop 7.1 kilometres and the Large Loop 9.4 kilometres. Signposted car parks in Scherpenseel, Grotenrath and Hohenbusch serve as starting points. The distances make it easy to compare the routes; check trail conditions before setting out. The landscapes of the Heinsberg district also include woodland and heathland in Schwalm-Nette Nature Park.
Castles, settlement and the city’s history
Trips Castle is not the only historic landmark in the Wurm Valley: Leerodt Castle is a former knight’s estate dating from the 14th century in the Wurm Valley of the Heinsberg district. Visitors are welcome there on Open Monument Day without prior registration. The settlement of Geilenkirchen developed in the High Middle Ages around a fortified castle and a church. They stood on the sites of today’s St.-Ursula-Gymnasium and St. Mariae Himmelfahrt.
Archaeological finds add to this early history, including a fortification mound at the Wurm crossing and Frankish row graves dating from the 7th century. Numerous historic buildings have been preserved in the old town centre. Pedestrian areas and traffic-calmed zones make it easy to find your way around the centre; shops and restaurants offer places to stop during a visit to the city.
More than ten guided tours explore different aspects of Geilenkirchen. The programme includes evening, costume, children’s, bus, cycling and culinary tours. Topics include Trips Castle, Loerhof and the historic town centre. If you would like a particular tour to be a highlight of your stay, check the programme for your preferred date.
Heritage railway and getting there
The Selfkantbahn operates as a heritage railway on a preserved 5.5-kilometre section of the former Geilenkirchener Kreisbahn. Steam trains run on Sundays and public holidays from Easter to the end of September. For specific planning, it is advisable to check the timetable. Admission to the Historic Classroom is free; no registration is required.
Geilenkirchen is connected to the Aachen–Düsseldorf railway line. There are two accessible railway stations within the city limits. For travel by car, the B 221 and B 56 federal highways connect to the A 44 and A 46 motorways. It is best to plan specific connections and departure times using the timetable or your chosen road route. City information is also available in English.
Discover more destinations: Wassenberg, Übach-Palenberg, Bocket, Tüddern, Heinsberg, Wegberg, Selfkant, Waldfeucht.
Go to the wider travel overview: Heinsberg.
