Swisttal: Rose Festival, Monastery History and Apple Route

What makes Swisttal special

Religious customs in Buschhoven, traces of older architectural history and experiences on two wheels give a stay in Swisttal a range of different focuses. There is also golf at Schloss Miel and a viewpoint at the Dünstekoven wetland. The topic that interests you most can be a useful starting point when choosing accommodation.

Religious tradition in Buschhoven

The Rose Festival is an annual tradition of the Catholic community and remains a highlight of religious life in Buschhoven throughout the year. At the same time, the number of pilgrims has steadily declined over the years. Buschhoven’s St. Catherine’s Church is a pilgrimage site and houses a devotional image in the form of a Romanesque statue of the Madonna. The Rose Festival and the statue represent different facets of local religious life: a tradition that continues throughout the year and a lasting religious work of art.

Architectural history and historic sites

The Historic Swist Crossing at Lützermiel is an experience stop on the Rhineland Apple Route. It explores the transportation of goods in the past and present. The stop is accessible by car via the B 56 and by bicycle via the Rhineland Apple Route. This theme connects the route with a specific look at freight transport in the past and present.

Another historic landmark is the former Schillingskapellen Monastery. It was built in the 12th century almost entirely from reclaimed material from the Roman aqueduct. Gut Capellen – Schillingskapellen can only be viewed from the outside. Its architectural history makes the reuse of materials a tangible part of the site, while the fact that it can only be viewed from outside is important when planning a visit.

Golf, a viewpoint and a nature station

Schloss Miel Golf Club has an 18-hole course on a 90-hectare site. Facilities and services include a driving range, introductory courses, private and group lessons, and video swing analysis.

The viewpoint at the Dünstekoven wetland can be visited at any time; check official notices before setting out. The NABU nature conservation station is located in the former operating buildings of the gravel pit at the wetland.

Cycling in Swisttal and the Rhein-Sieg district

The Swisttal Loop on the Rhineland Apple Route is 21.34 kilometres long. In the wider Rhein-Sieg district destination, the 124-kilometre Apple Route passes through Alfter, Bornheim, Swisttal, Rheinbach, Meckenheim and Wachtberg; it can also be explored via six smaller loops. The two distance figures provide different scales for planning: the specific Swisttal Loop and the longer route through several towns.

Other tourism offerings across the district can also help with planning your trip. Four regions are relevant to tourism in the Rhein-Sieg district: the Siebengebirge, the Siegtal, the Bergisches Land and the Rhein-Voreifel region. The long-distance hiking trails named there are the Natursteig Sieg, Bergischer Weg and Rheinsteig. Tourist cycling routes through varied natural and cultural landscapes cater to leisurely cyclists, sporty cyclists and e-bike riders.

This makes it easy to plan your trip around the interests you would like to focus on in Swisttal.

Discover more destinations

Discover more destinations: Niederkassel, Ruppichteroth, Meckenheim, Lohmar, Sankt Augustin, Alfter, Wachtberg, Hennef.

Return to the broader travel overview: Rhein-Sieg district.