Bordering the larger city of Cologne, the northern German town of Frechen is a small pocket of medieval charm in the heart of the Rhine Valley. Practically untouched by mass tourism, this is the perfect escape from city life.

Beyond the simple attractions of the medieval city centre, nature lovers can marvel at birds of prey at Skyhunters in Nature, a falconry committed to the care, feeding and training of buzzards, owls and falcons. Its falconers often perform at schools, private events and medieval fairs. Visitors can enjoy an hour-long photo shoot with their favourite birds or dive headfirst into life with the hunters of the air in a three to four-hour falconry workshop.

Frechen is about a half hour drive west of Cologne, which is situated directly on the Rhine. The town is also directly connected to Cologne’s S-Bahn system. Trains leave every 20 minutes from the Cologne Central Station and reach the Frechen-Konigsdorf stop in a little over 15 minutes.

Founded in 877, Frechen didn’t make a name for itself in Germany until the 16th century. While Italy underwent its famous Renaissance, the little Rhine town had its own artistic boom and became well known for its “Bartsmannkrug” or Beardman jugs and other terracotta artefacts.