VOGELSANG IP AT A GLANCE

VOGELSANG IP
AT A GLANCE
With site map and hiking tips
forum vogelsang construction phase
2012 - 2014
Issued April 2013
WELCOME!
Today, vogelsang ip is an international place of active remem­
brance, where in addition to conveying historical facts about
the Nazi era, issues, messages and reflections regarding our
present social life are addressed. The focus lies on the ques­
tion: What has Vogelsang (still) got to do with me now?
Major parts of the 100 hectare Vogelsang complex were built
by the National Socialists in 1934 with the aim of training
selected party officials there. From 1946 until 2005 it was the
centre of initially a British and later a Belgian military training
ground.
The new “Forum Vogelsang”, which is going to be the information, exhibition and training centre of vogelsang ip, has been
under construction since 2012. In total EUR 42 million in EU,
federal government and shareholder funding will be invested
into the listed complex as well as into the development of an
NS Documentation Centre, a National Park Exhibition and the
Display Window Eifel.
During the construction phase a Visitor Centre, which is located in the CultureCinema vogelsang ip in the direct vicinity of
the visitors’ car park, will be open to all guests!
Offers such as guided tours of the historic complex can be
booked here; visitors can browse through the shop or dine
in the restaurant/bistro. The seminar rooms are the starting
point for the educational programme. The cinema hall that
dates back to the 1950s is available for cultural events and
conferences.
A roughly 2 km long circular walk that starts just 200 metres
away from the Visitor Centre and a viewpoint at the
“Burgschänke” grant an insight into and an outlook over the
central historical site surrounding the “Adlerhof”, the building
site and the impressive National Park landscape including the
Urftsee.
There is also a Red Cross Museum, self-catering accommodation belonging to the DRK (German Red Cross), a swimming
pool and services offered by the Seelsorge Nationalpark
Eifel + Vogelsang at vogelsang ip.
At vogelsang ip we don’t consider leisure activities and taking
a critical look at the history of the site to be irreconcilable
opposites. Both have their rightful place here and can indeed
complement each other.
© Mola + Winkelmüller Architekten GmbH, BDA
Your vogelsang ip team
HISTORY IN BRIEF
The Eifel plateau above the Urft valley underwent radical
changes during the last century: The cultural landscape made
way for the Nazi “Ordensburg” of Vogelsang and later for the
military training ground known as “Camp Vogelsang”. Today
part of the area belongs to vogelsang ip | International Place
in the Eifel National Park.
1934
Construction work at Vogelsang commences with the
ground-breaking ceremony
on 15th March in line with
the plans of the architect
from Cologne, Clemens Klotz
1936
Training courses commence
1939
Training courses are
suspended; start of the
Second World War
1940
Most of the construction
work is suspended
1942
Site used for “Adolf-Hitler
Schools”
1944
Partial destruction by Allied
air raids
1945
Occupation by US army
1946
Military training ground of
the British army
1950
Transferred over to the
Belgian army
2005
Foundation of Standortentwicklungsgesellschaft
Vogelsang GmbH
2006
Opened to visitors as vogelsang ip | International Place
in the Eifel National Park
2008
International Architecture
Competition for the “Forum
Vogelsang” and foundation
of vogelsang ip gemeinnütz­
ige GmbH
2009
Completion of the VictorNeels Bridge; the German
Red Cross moves into
“Transit 59”; inauguration
of the swimming pool
2011
The construction work on
the former Belgian cinema
commences; inauguration
of the Red Cross Museum
for international law and
human rights.
2012–2014
Renovation of Forum
Vogelsang
VISITOR CENTRE
The Visitor Centre at the CultureCinema vogelsang ip is your
meeting point in the International Place in the Eifel National
Park. This is the starting point for the daily tours of the site.
Hikers also set off or arrive here on their way around the Eifel
National Park. If you have any questions regarding the location
or region, the vogelsang ip team will be glad to advise you.
Comprehensive literature on Vogelsang, National Socialism
and contemporary history, the region, the National Park and
nature themes is on sale in the book shop. Furthermore, free
information on hikes, accommodation and timetables is also
available.
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OPENING HOURS
The visitor information desk is open 365 days a year from 10 a.m. to
5 p.m. (on Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.).
Gastronomy at Vogelsang
The restaurant at the CultureCinema vogelsang ip offers a
varying range of dishes, breakfast and also coffee and cakes.
The restaurant accommodates large groups. In the summer
the outside terrace is open in fine weather.
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OPENING HOURS
The visitor information desk is open 365 days a year from 10 a.m. to
5 p.m. (on Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.).
Contact: fon +49 (0)2444 912 589
fax +49 (0)2485 911 495
[email protected]
HOW TO GET THERE
By Public Transport
There are daily regional bus connections to the “Vogelsang
Car Park“ bus stop from Kall Station via the SB 82 National
Park Shuttle Bus (hourly at the weekend and on public holidays), and from Simmerath at the weekend and on bank holidays via the No. 63 Wildnislinie bus as well as from Gemünd
on Sundays and public holidays. There is a daily round-trip
bus service from Aachen to Vogelsang (No. SB 63). Further
information is posted at: www.vrsinfo.de, www.avv.de
By car and coach
B 266 from Einruhr or Gemünd; address for navigation systems: 53937 Morsbach, Einruhrer Straße. There is a parking
fee of EUR 3 per vehicle in the central visitor’s car park.
Heinsberg
Köln
44
553
4
Bonn
Düren
Aachen
265
56
399
Hürtgenwald
565
Nideggen
E40
258
Vogelsang
Heimbach
Rursee
Eupen
Simmerath
Rurberg
Obersee
Einruhr
Urftsee
Gemünd
Kall
Schleiden
Bütgenbach
61
Mechernich
Monschau
Nationalpark
Eifel
Euskirchen
266
Hellenthal
265
Büllingen
1
Nettersheim
258
Blankenheim
Dahlem
Prüm
WE ARE THERE FOR YOU
fon +49 (0)2444 91579-0
[email protected]
www.vogelsang-ip.de
Daun
DAILY TOURS
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Site Tour
Target group: Single and limited mobility guests, interested in the
history, architecture and development of Vogelsang; insights into
the cinema hall, “Van Dooren” and “Burgschänke” buildings
Times: Daily without advance reservation, 2 p.m., additionally at
11 a.m. on Sundays and bank holidays
Duration: 90 minutes
Price: EUR 5; reduced price EUR 4; children under 12 free
Meeting point: Visitor Centre, CultureCinema vogelsang ip
GROUP TOURS
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Hillside Tour | Recommendation!
Target group: For all groups without limited mobility who are interested in the history, architecture and development of Vogelsang;
insights into the cinema and “Kameradschafts­haus No. 5”
Duration: 100 minutes
Price: EUR 100 for up to 25 people; EUR 2 for every further person
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Plateau Tour
Target group: For all groups including people with limited mobility,
who are interested in the history, architecture and development of
Vogelsang; insights into the cinema, “Van Dooren” and “Burgschänke” buildings
Duration: 90 minutes
Price: EUR 100 for up to 25 people; EUR 2 for every further person
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Special Tour
Target group: Individual adapted to suit the respective group
Duration: 150 minutes
Price: EUR 150 for up to 25 people; EUR 2 for every further person
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Bus Tour
Target group: For groups of people with extremely limited mobility
in own bus
Duration: 90 minutes
Price: EUR 100 for up to 25 people; EUR 2 for every further person
IN-DEPTH PROGRAMME OFFERS
In addition to the above tours, in-depth programme offers are
available for groups depending on their individual interests and
requirements:
f For adults: Lectures
f For children: Discovery sessions
f For school and youth groups: Project and Study Days,
further information is available in the “Youth Education at the historical site Vogelsang” leaflet which can be down-­
loaded at www.vogelsang-ip.de or sent by post free of charge
All offers are also posted online at www.vogelsang-ip.de
Vogelsang – without barriers
Bookings for the daily tours and the plateau tour are barrier-free:
f Available in several languages (German, English, French,
Dutch, Spanish, Swedish, Polish and Russian)
f In simple language (for people with learning
disabilities)
f For people with restricted mobility /
wheelchair users
f For people with impaired sight / accompanied
blind people
f For people with impaired hearing / accompanied deaf people (no sign language)
VOGELSANG IP PARTNERS ON-SITE
Seelsorge Nationalpark Eifel + Vogelsang
The pastoral care of the diocese of Aachen offers special
sessions that focus on Vogelsang and the National Socialist
ideology taking Christian/ethical aspects into account.
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information and reservations
GdG Hellenthal/Schleiden, Seelsorge in Nationalpark Eifel &
Vogelsang, pastoral assistant Georg Toporowsky, fon +49 (0)2444
91579-27, www.aufwind-spueren.de
Red Cross Museum vogelsang ip
The Red Cross Museum contains an exhibition on internation­
al law and human rights as well as on the history and inter­
national humanitarian work of the Red Cross movement.
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Opening Hours
Dates: May 1st to October 31st, Saturdays, Sundays and public
holidays, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Admission fee: Adults EUR 3, youths EUR 2, children under 12
free, families EUR 6, groups (6 people and over.) EUR 2 per
person
Group tours and special appointments on request:
DRK Euskirchen, fon +49 (0)2251 79110, www.rkmvip.de
“Transit 59” self-catering accommodation
The Youth, Nature and Environmental House of the DKR
offers a self-catering accommodation option for multi-day
education­al programmes.
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Information and reservations
Simon Jägersküpper, DRK Euskirchen, fon +49 (0)2251 791140
Swimming Pool
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OPENING HOURS
Monday to Fridays, 7 to 8 a.m.; Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays, 4 to 9 p.m.; Wednesday, 4 to 6 p.m.; Fridays, 4 to 7 p.m.;
Saturday, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Sundays, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Contact: Schwimm- und Sportverein Vogelsang, Vogelsang 44,
53937 Schleiden, fon +49 (0)2444 914194
[email protected]; www.schwimmbad-vogelsang.de
Event Location KULTURKINO
The CultureCinema (Kulturkino) vogelsang ip cinema hall that
is still in its original 1950s state and which holds up to 1,100
visitors is a special event location for a wide range of occa­
sions including concerts, theatre performances and musicals.
The restaurant is open during events.
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Event dates
Constantly updated at www.vogelsang-ip.de
Conference Venue
The CultureCinema vogelsang ip can be booked for conferences or corporate events with a supporting programme.
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Key data on CultureCinema vogelsang ip
Rooms: Cinema hall which holds up to 1,100 people, 6 seminar
rooms that hold between 20 and 150 people
Service: Individual supporting and accompanying programmes,
modern conferencing technology, full and half day conference
flat-rates, one-source full service solutions including participant
management, catering and restaurant service
Reservations: 365 days a year
Contact: fon +49 (0)2444 91579-14
[email protected]
Partners of vogelsang ip gemeinnützigen GmbH:
Stadt
Schleiden
Promoted by the Federal Republic of Germany pursuant to a resolution passed by the
German Parliament and with state urban development funding following a resolution passed
Gefördert durch die Bundesrepublik Deutschland aufgrund eines Beschlusses des Deutschen Bundestages und mit
by
the North Rhine-Westphalia Landtag:
Mitteln der Städtebauförderung aufgrund eines Beschlusses des Landtags Nordrhein-Westfalen:
CONTACT/IMPRINT
vogelsang ip gemeinnützige GmbH
CultureCinema vogelsang ip
53937 Schleiden
GERMANY
fon +49 (0)2444 91579-0
fax +49 (0)2444 91579-29
[email protected]
www.vogelsang-ip.de
Photos/Illustrations: Medienzentrum Kreis Euskirchen, Luc
Bruylandt, Sammlung F.A. Heinen, Mola + Winkelmüller
Architekten, vogelsang ip archive, vogelsang ip gemeinnützige
GmbH | Roman Hövel
“People and Accessibility” icon set: anatom5 perception
marketing GbR, Nationale Koordinationsstelle Tourismus für
Alle e.V. (National Coordination Point Tourism for Everyone)
Layout: www.verb.de
Printing: Warlich Druck, Meckenheim
All information is subject to change, issued 04/2013
HIKING TIPS VOGELSANG IP
The landscape around vogelsang ip offers a sweeping panoramic view of the Eifel National Park and the Urftsee and its
developing “second-hand primeval forests”. There is a choice
of different hikes:
Circular hike over Victor-Neels Bridge (12-14 km)
The Urftsee bridge makes it possible to enjoy a range of interesting hiking experiences between vogelsang ip and Gemünd,
Heimbach, Rurberg or Einruhr – including crossing the Urftsee dam or subsequent boat trips. The boldly-designed,
124 m long suspension bridge made out of steel and alumi­
nium is named after the former Belgian garrison commandant,
Victor Neels. He was and in fact still is a European “bridge
builder” in the spirit of understanding and tolerance.
Circular hike Wollseifen (6.5 km)
Circular trail across the Dreiborn plateau to Wollseifen, the
village that was evacuated in 1946.
vogelsang ip - Einruhr (8.5 km; Eifelsteig/wilderness trail 13.5 km)
Hike across the Dreiborn plateau to Einruhr (direct route or via
the Urftsee dam). Return journey to vogelsang ip from Einruhr
via the number 63 Wildnislinie bus.
vogelsang ip - Gemünd (Eifelsteig/wilderness trail 7 km)
A panoramic hike from vogelsang ip to Gemünd via the
“Eifel-Blick Modenhübel” (485 m). Return to Gemünd
on the National Park shuttle bus, SB 82.
EIFEL NATIONAL PARK
Group tours with National Park rangers
The CultureCinema vogelsang ip is the starting point for
individual guided excursions through the National Park with
certified nature and landscape guides (also in English, Dutch,
French, Italian and Spanish as well as in German and Dutch
sign language).
Cost: EUR 15 per hour and per group
Free ranger tours are additionally organised all year round on
Sundays and in the summer months regular carriage rides
leave from vogelsang ip.
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RANGER TOURS – DISCOVER THE WILDERNESS
Route: The circular hike guided by National Park rangers leads
through near-natural woods, over the open grasslands of the
Dreiborn plateau to the deserted village Wollseifen.
Times: Sundays at 1 pm in German, Duration: 3 hours/6.5 km;
Easy with a steep incline; hearing amplifiers can be booked
Price: Free of charge, no advance registration required
Meeting point: Ranger hat in front of the CultureCinema
vogelsang ip
Organisation of ranger tours, arrangement of individual ranger
guided tours for groups and information on accessibility:
Eifel National Park Administration, fon +49 (0)2444 9510-71,
[email protected], www.nationalpark-eifel.de
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CARRIAGE RIDES VOGELSANG IP-WOLLSEIFEN
Times: Every first and third Sunday of the month from April to
October inclusive, 11.30 a.m. and 2.15 p.m.
Price: Adults EUR 5/person, round trip EUR 9;
children/youths (under 18) half the adult price,
family ticket (parents with up to 3 children) round trip EUR 25
Meeting point: In front of the CultureCinema vogelsang ip, it is also
possible to board or leave the carriage in Walberhof and Wollseifen
Operator of the carriage rides: Reitanlage Steffens,
Monschau-Höfen, fon +49 (0)177 4478041, +49 (0)2472 5369
MAP OF SURROUNDING AREA
63,
83
SB
63
83
SB
68
231
68
815
Area of National Park
Viewing Point
National Park Info Point
Trail
“Eifel-Blicke”
Bus route with number
Ranger Meeting Point
Gateway to
National Park
Normal bus routes only
(www.eifel-blicke.de)
The network of trails which you are permitted to use is marked by wooden posts and signposts on the Dreiborn Plateau. Paths which riders are permitted to use are marked by a blue
ring on the wooden posts.
Mäxchen
231,
Mäx
ch
en
Bird Watching Station
Kulturkino
vogelsang ip
SB
82,
SB
63
231
B6
,S
2
B8
15
,8
31
8
3,
von Kall
SB 82,
829
S
9
82
31
5, 8
Carriage stopping point
Landing stage
for Rursee ferry
Cycle trail/Bridle path
Car park



A bicycle pictogram integrated into the signs indicates whether cyclists are permitted to use
the path in question.
SITE MAP
01 “Malakoff”: The former
entrance and guardhouse area
was erected during the second
construction phase of the
“Ordensburg”, which commenced in 1937.
02 View of Wollseifen: The
vil­lage had to be eva­cuated
within three weeks in August
1946 to make way for the British military training ground.
03 Belgian army’s cinema:
One of the last examples of
1950s cinema architecture.
Since 2012 CultureCinema
vo­­gel­sang ip, comprising of a
temporary Visitor Centre, ev­
ents location, learning centre.
04 Belgian barracks “Van
Dooren”: The Belgian mili­­­
tary administration built the
bar­racks on top of the foun­
dations of the part of the
“Ordensburg” that was
plan­ned as the monumental
“House of Knowledge”.
05 “Burgschänke”: Its archi­
tecture has largely been preserved in its original state.
Viewpoint over the “Forum
Vogelsang” building site and
the start of the circular trail.
06 “Adlerhof”: The courtyard
is the central section of the
former “Gemeinschaftshaus”
(Community House), which ex­
tends along the upper edge of
the slope leading down to the
Urftsee.
08 Former Hospital: The building was constructed as a hall
of residence for the female
support staff in Vogelsang and
was later used as an infirmary.
Visitor guidance system
Further information can be
obtained from several in­for­mation boards located along
the circular trail on the
grounds.
Guide
F.A. Heinen/Christina
Threuter: “Vogelsang in the
heart of the Eifel National
Park, a guide on the former
NS Ordensburg”. Available in
our book shop for EUR 4.95.
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INFORMATION ON THE SITE
f The rules and regulations
of the Bundesanstalt für
Immobilienaufgaben and the
Standortentwicklungsgesellschaft Vogelsang GmbH must
be observed and are automatically accepted on entering
the site.
f Visitors are not permitted to
leave the marked paths.
f Dogs must be kept on a lead.
f Visitors enter the site and the
buildings at their own risk,
winter road clearing services
are limited.
f Taking photographs and
filming on the site and in the
buildings is only permitted for
private use.
f Obstructions may occur in
some parts of the site due
to the construction work. We
apologise for any inconvenience caused.
09 Belgian Petrol Station
11 Tower: The skyline of
Vogel­sang is dominated by the
48-metre side tower of the east
wing, which is visible from afar
and which formed one of the
main elements of its image as
an “Ordensburg”. The tower
will not be accessible to the
public until 2014 as a result
of the construction work.
12 “Fackelträger”: The torchbearer sculpture located on the
former “Sonnwendplatz” (Solstice Platform) personifies the
racist ideal of the master race.
14 Former Sports Facilities,
Swimming Pool: The sports
facilities built from 1935 onwards formed an integral part
of Vogelsang’s function as a
training institution.
15 “Thingstätte”: The open-air
theatre built into the northern
slope was used for musical and
theatre performance as well as
for ceremonies.
16 “Kameradschaftshäuser”:
Ten residential buildings for
the training course participants
were erected below the
“roll-call area” in 1934/35.
17 “Hundertschaftshäuser”:
Four further residential units
were built on the western slope
to accommodate the planned
two-fold increase in training
course participants.