The Eifel is a region of rolling hills, thick forests and pasturelands, dotted with villages, farms and small towns. It lies just west of the Rhine, north of the River Mosel, and is ringed by the German cities of Aachen, Cologne, Bonn, Koblenz and Trier, although it also extends into Belgium and Luxembourg. A border region, the Eifel has been the site of countless invasions and wars, and is home to dozens of historic castles in various states of repair. During WWI it was a staging area for German armies, and toward the end of WWII the location of the Battle of the Bulge (1944-45). This beautifully scenic region today is a holiday destination for Germans and other Europeans looking for a place of peaceful retreat.