On the area of Würselen and Herzogenrath, to both sides of the river stretches the nature reserve Wurmtal.  South of Herzogenrath it measures about 445 hectares and receives its typical landscape from the winding creeks of the Wurm.

Already in 1989 the Wurmtal was declared as nature reserve. It measures 19 hectares north of Herzogenrath, where the Wurm  flows as an unspoilt lowland river inside a beautiful willow forest.

As a recreation area the Wurmtal is used for relaxation and  leisure time activities by about 100.000 people.

First clear documentary  mentions were found from 1566, but probably the “Bardenberger Mühle” or “Alte Mühle”, how it’s called today, already existed in the year 867 as back then “two mills” in Bardenberg were documented for the first time.