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-- Kranenburg

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Kranenburg, established by Count Dietrich VI of Kleve in 1225, is located on the Dutch border. According to popular opinion, the name “Kranenburg” seems to derive from the presence of a large number of cranes which were in that area at the time. It could also have been the more common heron, which is still prevalent in the area today. The town is a place of pilgrimage which, since 1308 has seen a constant flow of visitors who come from near and far to honor a figure of Christ in the shape of a cross having the appearance of a carved wood sculpture. According to legend, the figure sprang miraculously from a communion wafer which was discarded near a tree.

Some parts of the town center still have a medieval appearance, including houses that are built into the ancient perimeter wall. Those are not uncommon in Germany, but Kranenburg has somewhat more than usual. The mill tower and the old church are also worth a visit. Kranenburg has a regional office of NABU-Naturschutzstation e.V., making the town an important stop for those who come to the Niederrhein for winter wildfowl watching.