lit.eifel — Andreas Schäfer Reading in Bad Münstereifel

Bad Münstereifel — Spa Town in the Nordeifel

Bad Münstereifel, a spa town with around 17,000 inhabitants in the Euskirchen district (Cologne administrative region), is located in the idyllic Nordeifel — between Bonn and Aachen. Famous for its historic old town with city walls, the Erft bridge, and Heino open-air concerts, Bad Münstereifel is also a venue for literary events — especially as part of the lit.eifel festival, which enlivens the literary scene of the Nordeifel with readings in unusual locations.

Andreas Schäfer Reads from „Letzter Akt"

On Friday, May 29, 2026, at 7 PM, German author Andreas Schäfer will be a guest in Bad Münstereifel. Schäfer, born in Hamburg in 1969, is a novelist, essayist, and translator. He gained recognition for novels such as „Auf dem Rücken des Jaguars", „Gesichter", and most recently „Letzter Akt" (2025), from which he will read in Bad Münstereifel. The novel tells the story of a theater director facing his final engagement — Schäfer combines theater history, the art of memory, and social observations within it.

lit.eifel as a Festival Format

lit.eifel is a literary festival that presents literature „in a new form at unusual locations in the Eifel region." The 2026 program includes around 25 events between April and November. The events take place in several Eifel towns and villages: Monschau, Blankenheim, Nideggen, Mechernich, Bad Münstereifel, and others — geographical distribution is part of the concept. The aim is to make the region experienceable as a literary space.

Eifel Youth Literature Prize 2026 — „Hoffen & Träumen" (Hoping & Dreaming)

A parallel program of lit.eifel is the 13th Eifel Youth Literature Prize, which is being awarded in 2026 under the motto „Hoffen & Träumen". Young authors from the Eifel region submit short stories, poems, or novel excerpts — a jury selects the best entries, with the award ceremony and reading taking place in November 2026.

Support from the State of NRW

lit.eifel is funded by the Ministry for Culture and Science of the State of North Rhine-Westphalia through funds from Regional Cultural Policy. This funding enables the extensive program with prominent German authors and ensures regional anchoring in the Eifel municipalities. Tickets are available via ticket-regional.de — typically in the range of 10-15 EUR per reading.

Bad Münstereifel as a Literary Venue

The historic old town of Bad Münstereifel, with its restored half-timbered houses, the Gothic collegiate church, and the city wall, offers a special atmosphere for literary events. Visitors attending the Schäfer reading on May 29, 2026, can combine the evening with a stroll through the old town or a visit to the Heino Café (the famous home of the Schlager singer).

Getting There

Bad Münstereifel is easily accessible by car via the A 1 motorway (exit Bad Münstereifel/Mechernich). By public transport: from Cologne Central Station with the RB 24 to Euskirchen, then with the RVK bus 829 to Bad Münstereifel (approx. 1.5 hours total). Travel time from Bonn around 45 minutes, from Aachen around 1 hour.