Nature
25 places in Cologne
Baadenberger Senke, Stöckheimer See and Große Laache
since 2007A sprawling nature reserve of former gravel pits in Cologne's north-west – now a landscape of lakes, woodland and one of the most important amphibian spawning grounds west of the Rhine.
Butzbach
A roughly 5.8 km sandy stream that rises in the Wahner Heide and seeps away in the Grengel Bieselwald – part of a protected landscape area in southern Cologne.
Chorbusch
since 2004Around 427 hectares of near-natural woodland on Cologne's north-western edge – a refuge for rare birds such as golden oriole and nightingale.
Frechener Bach
A small stream that begins at the Frechen sewage works and, after 4.6 km, seeps away in Cologne's green belt near the Militärring – restored on Cologne territory.
Giesbach
A roughly 8.3 km stream that rises in the Königsforst and finally splits into two arms that seep away in ponds – with a water-treading station at a tri-city point.
Gleueler Wiese
A roughly 4.8-hectare hay meadow in Cologne's Outer Green Belt in Sülz that serves as a cold-air corridor and provides habitat for animals and plants.
Am Ginsterpfad
since 1991A roughly 21-hectare nature reserve set in a former gravel pit between Weidenpesch, Longerich and Mauenheim — off-limits to protect its wildlife and viewable only from a single lookout point.
Am Godorfer Hafen
since 1991A 23-hectare nature reserve beside the Godorf harbour in southern Cologne — a grassland-and-scrub mosaic that grew out of an old gravel deposit and now shelters rare animals and plants.
Am Grünen Kuhweg
since 1991A restored former gravel pit on Cologne's northern edge in Flittard, protected as a nature reserve since 1991 — a species-rich habitat of open water, sandy dry grassland and rare plants and animals.
Naturschutzgebiet Am Hornpottweg
since 1983A former gravel pit on Cologne's north-eastern edge, a nature reserve since 1983 – a wetland habitat with over 200 bird species that can be viewed from a roughly 2 km circular trail.
Am Vogelacker
since 1991Compact 6.26-hectare nature reserve in a former gravel pit south of Cologne-Immendorf, packing many rare-species habitats into a small space.
An der Ziegelei
since 1991A 20-hectare floodplain nature reserve near Cologne where birch and poplar woods reclaim a former brickworks in the Rhine's periodic flood zone.
Dellbrücker Heide
since 2009A 39-hectare nature reserve on a former military site north of Cologne-Dellbrück, home to rare heathland species and open habitats.
Flittarder Rheinaue
since 1991A four-kilometre stretch of protected Rhine floodplain on Cologne's northern edge, rich in birdlife and criss-crossed by paths for walkers and cyclists.
Kiesgrube Wahn
since 1988A fenced-off Cologne nature reserve on a former gravel pit in Porz, home to species-rich wetland and aquatic habitats that may not be entered.
Kiesgruben Meschenich
since 1991A species-rich Cologne nature reserve on a former gravel pit on the southern edge of Meschenich, with excavation lakes, reed beds and valuable bare-ground habitats.
Kiesgruben Paulsmaar
since 1991A fenced-off Cologne nature reserve with three former gravel-pit lakes southeast of the city, leased to an angling club and closed to the public.
Naturschutzgebiet Königsforst
since 2000A large, unbroken protected woodland in Cologne's east, with old oak and beech forests, near-natural sandy streams and rare wildlife.
Langeler Auwald
since 1989A Cologne nature reserve along a Rhine river bend in the Langel district, with remnants of floodplain forest, a flood dyke and a breeding ground for numerous rare bird species.
Rheinaue Langel-Merkenich
since 1989A nature reserve on the Rhine's left bank in northern Cologne, with floodplain forest, hay meadows and a near-natural riverbank between Langel and Merkenich.
Rheinaue Worringen-Langel
since 1991A nature reserve on the Rhine in northern Cologne, with floodplain forest, river meadows and a Glan-cattle grazing scheme, home to 93 bird species.
Naturschutzgebiet Thielenbruch und Thurner Wald
since 1969A wetland reserve on Cologne's north-eastern edge, home to the region's only surviving calcareous fen and a refuge for many rare species.
Wahner Heide
A vast nature reserve east of Cologne with a rare mosaic of dry dunes and wet moorland, freely accessible on marked trails.
Westhovener Aue
A roughly 0.7 km² recreation and nature area on the right bank of the Rhine in Westhoven – a restored former military site and flood-retention space.
