Fürstenberg

Fürstenberg is a woodland hill rising roughly 75 meters (246 feet) southeast of Xanten, crossed by walking paths through mixed forest. The slopes feature beech, oak, ash, and chestnut trees alongside the remains of old monastery structures and the small Kreuzkapelle chapel.

A Roman military camp called Vetera was established on the southern slope in 13 BCE, showing early occupation by Rome. Centuries later, a monastery developed on the hill, and its spiritual role shaped the landscape until religious dissolution led to gradual transformation of the site.

The former monastery grounds here hold the Kreuzkapelle chapel built in the 17th century and Haus Fürstenberg, both marking the site's long role as a spiritual place. Walking through, you sense how the hill has served as a focal point for the community across different eras.

Two cycling routes reach the summit, one from Birten and another from Xanten, with gentle slopes around 3.5 percent gradient. The walking paths are easy to follow through the forest, making the hill accessible to visitors of varying fitness levels.

A nature reserve covering 47 hectares protects green woodpeckers, nightingales, and several bat species that hunt among the tree canopy. This wildlife makes the hill an important refuge for woodland creatures rarely seen elsewhere in the region.