Worringer Bruch

Worringer Bruch is a protected area in Chorweiler, Cologne, covering approximately 160 hectares of wetlands, ponds, open water, and mixed forests with both hardwood and softwood trees. The landscape developed from an old bend in the Rhine River and now serves as a habitat for diverse wildlife.

The area formed around 8,000 years ago when a side channel of the Rhine River separated from the main stream, leaving behind an abandoned river loop. This natural process shaped the wetlands and water features that exist here today.

Local foresters conduct educational tours through the reserve, sharing knowledge about native plant species and ecosystem development with residents from surrounding communities.

Dogs must be kept on a leash or under close control because unrestricted dogs disturb ground-nesting birds and other wildlife in the area. Binoculars and a bird guide are helpful tools for exploring and observing the reserve properly.

This reserve holds one of Germany's largest populations of great crested newts, recognizable by their distinctive ridge along the back. These amphibians depend heavily on the clean waters and undisturbed environment this protected area provides.

Location: Chorweiler

Inception: 1989

GPS coordinates: 51.04700,6.85883

Latest update: December 11, 2025 18:07