Monschau

Above the city is the castle Monschau, which dates back to the 13th century - in 1198 the first mention of Monschau was made. Starting in 1433 the castle was used as a seat of the dukes of Jülich. In 1543 Emperor Charles V. besieged it as part of the Geldern Feud, captured it and plundered the city. However the castle stayed with Jülich until 1609, then it became part of Palatinate-Neuburg.

1795 French captured the area, and under the name Montjoie made it the capital of a canton of the Roer département. After the area became part of Prussia in 1815, Monschau became the capital of a district, the Kreis Montjoie. In 1918 the German Emperor changed the name to Monschau.

In 1972 the city was enlarged with the previous independent municipalities Höfen, Imgenbroich, Kalterherberg, Konzen, Mützenich and Rohren.

Source: Wikipedia