Ahr Valley

The Ahr valley (Ahrtal, pronounced [ˈaːɐ̯taːl]) is named after the Ahr, a left tributary of the Rhine in Germany. It begins at the Ahr spring (Ahrquelle) in Blankenheim in the county of Euskirchen (North Rhine-Westphalia) and runs generally eastwards. At its southernmost point it enters the county of Ahrweiler, and hence the state of Rhineland-Palatinate. Running through the collective municipality of Adenau the valley bends northeast at its confluence with the Adenauer Bach and reaches the collective municipality of Altenahr, from where it resumes its characteristic west to east course, albeit interrupted by meanders. Here begins the section that is known as the Ahr valley (Ahrtal) in a touristic sense. Here it is characterized by vineyards on the south-facing slopes and a picturesque rocky landscape, carved out by the river creating a 300 meter deep gorge in the Ahr Hills. In the next stage the Ahr reaches the area of the county town of Bad Neuenahr-Ahrweiler, before finally discharging into the Rhine south of Remagen in the borough of Sinzig. In July 2021, a catastrophic flood killed 188 inhabitants. About 8,800 homes were destroyed across the region. The federal and state authorities made 30 bilion euro's available for reconstruction. Insurance, donations and the owners own money further added to the rebuilding effort.

From its head, the Ahr valley runs through a rolling uplands with pastures, woods and occasional hamlets or farmsteads. It is followed by the B 258 federal highway. The first noteworthy villages are Ahrhütte and Ahrdorf, in the municipality of Blankenheim. The Ahr valley then becomes gradually narrower and reaches its southernmost point where it leaves the state of North Rhine-Westphalia. The first village in Rhineland-Palatinate that it encounters is Dorsel, on the heights above the valley. In Müsch the B 258 leaves the Ahr valley, and the L 73 then accompanies the river, which is still small at this stage. From here the valley runs through Antweiler to Fuchshofen, almost northwards, before swinging almost due east from Schuld, passing Insul and reaching Dümpelfeld where it is joined by the B 257. Here, at it

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