Upper Rurtal with the rock formations of the Ehrensteinley

Upper Rurtal with the rock formations of the Ehrensteinley IUCN Category IV - Habitat / Species Management Area
Ehrensteinley rock formation seen from Reichensteiner Weg
location	Monschau , Aachen city region , North Rhine-Westphalia , Germany
surface	123 ha
Identifier	ACK-002
WDPA ID	318889
FFH area	DE-5403-304
Geographical location	50 ° 33 '  N , 6 ° 12'  E Coordinates: 50 ° 32 '32 "  N , 6 ° 12' 17"  E
Setup date	1967
Framework plan	Landscape plan Monschau
administration	Lower landscape authority of the Aachen city region

The nature reserve Upper Rurtal with the rock formations of the Ehrensteinley is located in the area of ​​the town of Monschau an der Rur .

description

Rur mountain stream between Reichenstein and Dreistegen

In this area the river has cut into the Devonian slate like a kerbtal valley and forms a natural, rocky bed up to ten meters wide with rapids and pools and flows around larger boulders and gravel banks lying in the river bed. A narrow strip of alluvial forest made of maple , alder and ash runs alongside the river on its banks . Many epiphytic lichens can be found on the old trees . Below the Ehrensteinley, a prominent rock cliff, the valley floor is covered over a small area by grassland, which is used as a tent and playground. Where rocks emerge on the slopes, the shady locations are mostly moist and covered with moss, while sunny locations have heather vegetation and have boreal northern striped fern .

Ruraue "Alter Weyer" west of Kalterherberg

The Rur flows west of Kalterherberg through an approximately 150 meter wide valley floor. The river bank and bottom are stony. Willow bushes grow on the banks and in the middle area the spruce forests reach as far as the left bank, which is partially submerged. Further down the river, alder trees and other hardwood stands on the left bank . Along the river, there are green spaces left to their own devices as well as a species-rich Kleinseggenried ( brown sedge swamp ) divided by small groups of birch trees with varieties of grass grass and a daffodil meadow .

Upper Rurtal near Gut Reichenstein

The area includes the Rur valley between the railway bridge and today's Reichenstein monastery . The western border is the former embankment of the Vennbahn, today's Vennbahnradweg . The Norbertus Chapel is on Landstrasse 106 and there is a car park with a refuge nearby. The river is accompanied in sections by a reed grass border; the alder riparian wood is only locally developed. At the southern end there is a 130 by 70 m large pond, surrounded by thick wood. The valley floor is severely narrowed by the mountain spur on which the monastery lies. There are old beeches and alders on the access road to the monastery.

Good Reichenstein

In the area is the Reichenstein estate, today Reichenstein monastery again , as well as an approximately one hectare pond. The pond is surrounded by oaks and alders up to 15 m high. Recently, historical garden terraces have been exposed there, which are to be placed under monument protection. The bank of the Rur is fortified with stones in places.

Wet fallow land on the Rur near the Kalterherberg sewage treatment plant

The area includes the Ruraue between the Vennbahnradweg and the Kalterherberg sewage treatment plant. The floodplain consists mostly of fallow grassland and pasture land.

Rurtal in the area of ​​the Perlenbach estuary

This area of ​​the nature reserve affects the Rur valley from the Hasenbach to the outskirts of Monschau, including the valley slopes. The Rur has been provided with a large, naturally designed sole ramp below the Hasenbach . On the bank walls up to the Perlenbach estuary you can see that there was a weir. Further downstream, the Rur flows through a natural bed, accompanied by an alder forest.

Upper Rurtal

The upper Rurtal is characterized by the rock formations of the Ehrensteinsley. In this area, there is a sewage treatment plant with buildings and other structures typical of the plant, grassy slopes and a sub-area of ​​a middle-aged spruce forest northwest of Kalterherberg.

Hillside grassland on Rosengasse west of Kalterherberg

The area of ​​Flur Rompahl comprises a small, steep and south-facing slope of the Rur valley near Kalterherberg, which mainly consists of fallow grassland. In the area to the east, steep paths lead through uneven spruce trees with interspersed deciduous bushes. The area used to be used to mine roof slate .

Protection purpose

The goal is the protection and preservation of natural habitats: rivers with underwater vegetation, moist tall herb corridors, oat grass - and Burnet - Silgenwiesen , siliceous scree of Bergslagen, silicate rocks with crevices vegetation silicate rocks with their pioneer vegetation, Luzulo - Buchenwald , gorge - and slope mixed forests and alder - , Ash and softwood alluvial forests.

The habitats are to be protected for many plants, fungi and animals that are endangered according to the Red List . The area primarily serves to maintain a near-natural habitat for endangered plant and animal species and to maintain and develop natural habitats in accordance with Appendix II of the Habitats Directive. In the nature reserve u. a. Bullhead , brook lamprey , preservation of habitat for kingfishers , Whinchat , Common frog , grass snake , black woodpecker , gray woodpecker , dippers , bog asphodel , Bärwurz , yellow daffodil and plane trees buttercup before.

These biotope types to be protected can be found in this area: springs, swamps and reeds, wet and humid grassland, poor meadows and pastures, near-natural, unspoilt stream sections, rocks standing on the surface, canyon, block and slope debris forests as well as alluvial forests .

See also

• List of nature reserves in the Aachen city region
• List of FFH areas in North Rhine-Westphalia

Web links

• Nature reserve "Upper Rurtal with the rock formations of the Ehrensteinley" in the specialist information system of the State Office for Nature, Environment and Consumer Protection of North Rhine-Westphalia