It doesn't take long to realize why Rurberg is so special. Everywhere we go, we come across old half-timbered houses - the typical Winkelhöfe farms of the northern Eifel. Some of them date back to the 17th century. We notice an old well chamber. It is a spring set in quarry stone, from which water still gurgles merrily. In earlier times, the neighbors used to fetch drinking water from here. Later it was also used to water cattle.

After the last farmstead with the former bakery on the left-hand side of the road, we reach the new development area "An der Eiche". A sight of a very different kind awaits us here: the view of the lake with the Kermeter behind it and the southern part of the village with the church, which is enthroned high above the valley on a saddle. Here we can see for ourselves that Rurberg is rightly named.

Once again, we come across half-timbered houses, some of which are over three hundred years old. Another special feature of Alt-Rurberg are the numerous crosses, which bear witness to the people's deep attachment to God. We come across them again and again during the course of our hike. A particularly beautiful, colorful example with a sun disk above the head of the crucified man stands at the corner house above the junction of the street "Am Kanal". The "Bollard" also surprises us with farmsteads worth seeing. We discover a special feature of the half-timbered houses in Rurberg on a short detour to a house in "Ginstersley". The old courtyard paving made of Rurkiesel stones has been preserved here.

When we reach the lowest point of our tour, numerous benches invite us to take a well-earned rest. From here, we have a wonderful view of the lake and the hillside forest opposite, which presents itself in a unique blaze of color in autumn. The ground we are on is "new ground". It was filled in when the Rur lake was raised. This also created a small park, including a mini-golf course and playground, where children can run around to their heart's content. Heading north, we reach the "Grimmischall". This field name is said to go back to a "Schalt", a deep spot in the Rur. Today, the road ends here on the shore of the lake. But it wasn't always like this. Eight houses, some of which are worthy of preservation, which were located on the road to the Rur, were dammed up in 1958 after the dam was raised.

At the end of the village, we reach the Hubertus Chapel, which invites us to pause for a moment. From here, the path leads directly along the lakeshore. The sun shines through the canopy of leaves above us. Its rays are reflected thousands of times in the waves of the lake. There are numerous jetties and the quarters of several sailing clubs close to the shore. At the end of the street "In den Höfen", we turn left into "Hövel". Lovers of half-timbered houses will once again get their money's worth here. The closed courtyard immediately before the sharp left-hand bend is something very special. The various parts of the building date back to the 17th and 18th centuries.

It is only a few steps to the parish church of St. Barbara. The inhabitants of Rurberg had already built a chapel on this prominent site in 1701, which was completely destroyed during fierce fighting on February 4, 1945. One of the special features of the church, which was consecrated in 1950, is the baptismal font from 1702 and a stained glass window designed by Erich Charlier, which bathes the room of a side chapel in mystical light. Charlier lived in Hammer until his death in 2015 and made a name for himself with his art throughout his life. One last look back at the surroundings of the church, then it's off up Steinbüchelstraße to the parking lot.