They still exist: places that are as lively as they are tranquil and rural. One such place is Muldenau, the smallest district of Nideggen with just under 200 inhabitants. The well-preserved church village is tucked away in a hollow below the Großenberg, surrounded by orchards and fields. With multi-winged courtyards, lovingly maintained wayside shrines and quarry stone houses typical of the bördet. With places where people like to meet for a chat. There is plenty to tell in the extremely active community life. Even the past cannot be covered in one sentence, as it goes back to Roman times. Later, the Frankish king Clovis, for example, marched his armies in the Börde to fight the Alemanni, as did the Dukes of Cologne and Jülich. In contrast, the centuries-long existence as a wine-growing village was much more peaceful. However, the name Muldenau is missing from all historical documents. Instead, the official place name was Pissenheim, presumably formed from an Old German name such as Pissin and the base word -heim. It was not until 1919 that the official renaming, instigated by residents, put an end to the long-suffering history of ridicule. For over 100 years now, Muldenau has also been a figurehead of the Rur-Eifel by name. Take a leisurely stroll through the village and the nature reserve of Biesberg and Großenberg, known for its wealth of orchids. Soothing!

Muldenau makes a strong impression on the 1.1-kilometer circular trail. The holy hut in Barbarastrasse is a real gem that invites you to linger. Immediately afterwards, the Muldenau landmark comes into view: St. Barbara's Church. Its origins date back to the 15th century. Together with Muldenau Castle, it forms the town center, which is well worth seeing. The once four-winged moated castle was first mentioned as early as the 12th century. The village was of course completed by a rectory and schoolhouse. Both are architectural testimonies to their time and are now "out of service". Following Barbarastrasse, you come to the memorial for the fallen of both world wars. The same applies to the Madonna house in Brückenstraße, a place of quiet contemplation and remembrance. Here, flower decorations and flowerbeds or the insect hotel, which promotes biodiversity, once again show the great civic commitment in the village. This lively and diverse community life has a permanent address: The village community center in Ulmenstraße with the adjacent spacious playground. The idyllic end of the circular route is the historic Barbara fountain: a wonderful place to chat about old and new times in the Bördedorf Muldenau, especially in summer.