Village Cottages, Hotel Horchem & Braukeller and Roer River

This image was taken on the left side of the bridge over the Roer River with a view of the village cottages and Hotel Horchem & Braukeller in Monschau. To get to this bridge, park in one of the many parking lots in the town of Monschau, then walk toward the city center and find the Evangelische Stadtkirche Monschau church (50.554557, 6.241006). The bridge will be directly east of the church and I stood facing north to get this view.

All months of the year are suitable to photograph the Monschau cottages, Hotel Horchem & Braukeller and the Roer River.

Visit during blue hour when the soft light brings out the buildings in the village. When shooting at this time, wait for the houses and hotel to turn their lights on for some nice colorful details. It'll also complement the blue hour mood. If you're visiting at sunrise, you might experience fog in the morning. This element can give your photo a more ominous look.

Handheld photography is allowed, although drones are prohibited here.

I recommend using a tripod if you're shooting during blue hour. This will allow you to keep the ISO relatively low so you can control the lack of grain and noise in the final image.

Use the river as a leading line that guides the eye to the architecture.

Be patient and wait for the surrounding houses and hotel to turn on their lights — it'll add a very nice element to your image.

The town has a rich cloth-mill history and it also serves as an inspiration for those who love medieval architecture. Walk around and enjoy the sights and don't forget to check out the Monschau Castle, which is now a youth hostile and concert venue in the summer months.