Discover Titz: Jewish heritage and the Moated Castles Route

The municipality of Titz can be explored through its various historical traces and a regional route. In the north of the Düren district, the Moated Castles Route passes through Titz. In Titz itself and in the district of Rödingen, church architecture, Jewish heritage and the history of a mill tell different stories of the municipality. You can plan your stay according to whether you want to focus on discovering cultural history or make the route the centre of your plans.

Rödingen: synagogue, residence and cemetery

The LVR Cultural Centre Rural Synagogue Rödingen is an ensemble comprising a synagogue and the residence of the Jewish Ullmann family. Built in 1841, the synagogue is the only rural synagogue in the Rhineland to have been largely preserved in its original state. Together, the synagogue and residence form the only building ensemble of its kind in the western Rhineland to have been largely preserved in its original state. These two statements use different criteria: one refers to the synagogue, the other to the combination of a place of worship and a residence. Lectures and workshops on Jewish topics take place at the rural synagogue every month. Check the events calendar for specific dates when planning your visit.

The Jewish cemetery on the outskirts of Rödingen was first mentioned in 1745. Fifteen tombstones and one base without a tombstone remain there. The tombstones were set up along the cemetery wall in 1964 because their original location was no longer known. The two dates mark different chapters: 1745 for the cemetery’s first mention, and 1964 for the tombstones’ relocation.

Church and mill history in the municipality

In the village of Titz, the two lower storeys of the late Gothic parish church of St Cosmas and Damian have survived. Düppelsmühle is another important part of the municipality’s history: it is considered its landmark and formerly served as a post mill for grinding grain. In 2014, it was badly damaged by a storm and subsequently repaired. Its history therefore encompasses both its former function and a specific repair following storm damage.

Choose the Moated Castles Route and accommodation to suit your priorities

In the north of the Düren district, the Moated Castles Route passes through the municipalities of Titz and Niederzier, the town of Jülich and the municipality of Aldenhoven. Its route provides a regional framework for planning; the rural synagogue, cemetery and parish church represent distinct cultural history topics in the municipality of Titz. When choosing accommodation, it helps to decide on your priorities first: will the route shape your trip, or would you rather set aside time mainly for the historic sites? Then compare the specific accommodation address with your own itinerary.

Another point of interest in the wider Düren travel destination

In the wider Düren travel destination, the Indemann offers a different perspective: the 36-metre-high sculpture stands on the Goltsteinkuppe, the highest point in the municipality of Inden at just under 150 metres. The observation platforms offer views across the Inden open-cast mine landscape; the outstretched arm can also be walked on. In Jülich, the almost completely preserved and restored citadel provides an architectural highlight. Its fortress, with a ducal palace in the style of the Italian High Renaissance, is considered the oldest complex of its kind north of the Alps. It can be explored independently or as part of a guided tour. Check the current opening arrangements before travelling.

Discover more destinations: Langerwehe, Merzenich, Düren, Linnich, Vettweiß, Nörvenich, Aldenhoven, Inden.

Back to the main travel overview: Düren.