"When night fell, I sat down on a sloping meadow. Aachen stretched out before me and lay in its valley like a pretty tub." So wrote Victor Hugo at the beginning of his Rhine journey in 1860. Even today, the mountain ranges around the Aachen basin continue to entice visitors with attractive hiking areas. Away from settlements and traffic, the following hike takes us through the secluded Haarbach valley to Aachen's only summit cross at 239 meters.

Right at the start of the hike, we come across the Welsche Mühle, one of three mills that have been operated by the Haarbach since the 15th century. Its two parallel mills and wooden gears are a gem of technical history. The mill and technology have been restored with great dedication. Today, the mill offers space for festivities and invites visitors to take a break on the meadow and play area.

After a leisurely, steady ascent through the green valley, we reach the settlement of Verlautenheide. On the edge of the village, the panoramic trail offers wonderful views from the edge of the basin. On the short detour to the summit cross, the entire town and its surrounding mountain ranges lie at our feet. To the south, the Mulleklenkes telecommunications tower rises out of the Aachen forest, the highest points of which are around 120 meters higher than the Haarberg. But the 360-degree panoramic view is only available here. On gentle loops with a beautiful view, the trail takes you leisurely down the slope, past orchards and the old Jewish cemetery, hidden in a grove of hedges.

Got a taste for it? If you continue the loop through Verlautenheide along the country road, you can extend the hike to a longer loop. The loop leads through the old deciduous forests of the so-called Reichswald. It was part of the medieval Aachen Empire, which, in addition to the walled city, also included the rural districts, whose farms provided for the city. For the villagers of the Haaren, Weiden and Würselen districts, the imperial forest was the basis of their livelihood for building houses, tools and firewood. As soon as the oaks and beeches bore fruit, the pigs were driven in to fatten up. After extensive use, only a small remnant remained in the 18th century. Today, the forest is allowed to recover. On attractive, level paths - some of which are designated as "senior citizens' paths" and are cycle-free - we admire old beech and oak trees that remind us of the forest's long history. The way back leads us along field paths back to the previous hiking route to the Haarener Kreuz and down the Panoramaweg to the center of Haaren.

Highlights along the route:

• Haaren Zehnthof
• Welsche Mühle mill
• Haarener Kreuz, view
• Jewish cemetery