Aachen: sportive tour through 3 countries

Come to Aachen early today - it's worth it! The Aachen Cathedral was the first German building in the list of UNESCO World Heritage listed in 1978. It is the coronation church of 30 German kings, the burial place of Charlemagne and until today a significant pilgrimage church with a unique cathedral treasury. On a leisurely tour, you can also visit the historic 14th-century town hall and visit the new city museum before enjoying the famous "Aachener Printen", which are not only offered at Christmas time in a variety of flavors.

Today you cycle quite sporty on the railway line of the former Vennbahn up in the Eifel. In wide arches, the developed bike path winds gently uphill through the wooded landscape and overspans at the picturesque village Kornelimünster with its many listed old town houses on two spectacular viaducts deeply cut valleys. On short sections, the route also leads through Belgium and on up to the highest point of the entire journey at 550m altitude on the edge of the “Hohen Venn”. After 40 km you leave the Vennbahn cycle path and well deserved you cycle downhill via small Eifel villages to the Rurstausee at 300m altitude, which offers a unique scenic backdrop in the middle of the Eifel National Park. At the end of the stage the Rurstausee invites you to swim.

Cycling in the morning on the idyllic lakeshore - this atmosphere remains unforgettable and accompanies you the first 15 km of this day till you reach the dam. Even then, the Rur shore bike path is well developed and follows the numerous turns of the river through the nature reserve north Eifel on the pilgrimage Heimbach, the reservoir Obermaubach and on to Kreuzau, the gateway to the Eifel. Now the landscape changes, at Düren, the valley continues and the bike path runs as a dirt road always directly on the lively river to Jülich. Here a visit to Brückenkopfpark and the citadel is worthwhile.

Another full day on the versatile Rur bike path! Today, vast open fields dominate alternating with small villages. Not for nothing this fertile landscape was once the granary of the "Holy Roman Empire". The flat bike path usually runs directly on the idyllic shore and some lakes on the way lure with varied bathing breaks. Especially the Effelder Waldsee with its fine sandy beach and the beautiful terrace invite you to take a break before you cross the border. On beautiful Dutch cycle paths you come past the castle Daelenbrook to St. Odilienberg with the remarkable Romanesque basilica. As the grand finale of today's stage, you will reach the Rur mouth in the Maas in the old Hanseatic town of Roermond. The many listed buildings in the city center are dominated by the cathedral and a stroll through the old town will immerse you in the relaxed Dutch way of life.

From now on, the navigable Maas is your companion and new causeways serve as well-developed and signposted bike paths through this diverse water landscape. In the morning, the white town of Thorn, with the listed village center and the beautiful abbey church, attracts visitors to a worthwhile stop. From now on, the river forms the border between the Netherlands and Belgium, and the cycle path repeatedly changes its border. Here is the heart of this special cycling region, nature lovers and recreational athletes will be both happy, because old arms as nature reserves change with Maas-Lake, which allow a variety of water sports. All the area is surrounded by the Maas! Numerous beautiful cafés and shady beer gardens invite you to take a break. Another highlight is the church village "Oud-Rekem", which was named the most beautiful village of Flanders in 2008. Finally you cycle to the medieval university city of Maastricht and dive into the vibrant cultural scene or stroll in the ancient city center between almost 1500 monuments.

Today you can expect a new landscape, because the route leaves the river landscape and leads through the slightly hilly Zuid-Limburg. This is the tourist heart of the southernmost region of the Netherlands and the hub of the border triangle "Netherlands - Germany - Belgium". The varied day's tour leads through historic towns with churches, half-timbered houses and watermills and to castles, manors and country estates, which often entice with romantic retreats. You cycle in the narrow valley of the Geul to Valkenburg, the picturesque excursion destination with old aristocratic seats, preserved city gates, a romantic old town and the unique Fluweelengrotte with its carved in sandstone widely branched corridor system. From here you continue on small roads through this hilly landscape of Holland over Gulpen and Vaals back to Aachen, where the distinctive cathedral can be seen from afar.

Today ends the beautiful round trip at the Rur and Maas in the border triangle.

We will spoil you in Rurberg in an atmospheric setting with a delicious 3-course Eifel menu in the Genießer-Wirtshaus or the Hotel Paulushof.