Erftstadt represents as a young town, created in 1969 as part of communal reorganization and it consists of 14 communities.
The name of course is derived from the Erft River, flowing from the South through Bliesheim, then through the two larger quarters of Erftstadt-Lechenich and Erftstadt-Liblar before getting past Erftstadt-Gymnich to the North where it exits the municipal area. Located centrally and very close to the two major cities of Cologne and Bonn, Erftstadt also borders the Kottenforst-Ville Natural Preserve, a local recreational park with a landscape of recultivated forests and lakes located within a former lignite mining area. Aside from expansive hiking and biking trails, sailing, surfing, swimming and fishing are available onseveral Ville lakes, offering a high degree of recreation and relaxation. Only about 20% of 2 the Erftstadt municipal area of 120 km are developed. Erftstadtis the largest municipalityn Rhein-Erft County in terms of area.
- Gymnich Palace
Erftstadt is a bicycle-friendly city. A network of bike trails leads through river marshes, meadows and fields past historical town centers and numerous attractions, castles and palaces. The best-known ones are the Lechenich State Castle and Gracht Palace (birthplace of Carl Schurz, the first German-born Secretary of State of the
USA). Gracht Palace is the domicile of the European School of Management and Technology and also a particular figurehead of Erftstadt. Erftstadt became internationally renowned through Gymnich Palace which between 1971 and 1990 served the German Federal Government as its guest house, hosting many VIPs and international heads of state. The advantages of its surroundings and the excellent municipal structure characterize the residential quality in all 14 quarters distributed throughout the city area, enchanting through their small-town character or rural flair. Even today many of the city dwellers throughout the Rhine tract are drawn to Erftstadt.
- Gracht Palace
Business commuters prefer to use the railroad station in Liblar with itexpansive Park & Ride facilities, providing them the opportunity to arrive in Cologne in just 15 minutes, relaxed and stress-free. Excellent traffic connections to the A1, A61 and A553 Autobahns as well as Federal Highway 265 to Cologne also contribute to Erftstadt’s success as an economic site location. At the southern fringes of Lechenich a new industrial area of approx. 35 hectare in size – the “Erftstadt Economic Park”– is being developed. This park will differ from other industrial parks through municipal building and zoning features as well as an attractive architecture.
