Cols de Cologne – the best climbs around the city

The foothills between Walberberg and Alfter offer a series of short but crisp climbs, each of which has its own character. Sometimes it goes straight uphill through the settlement, sometimes winding through the fields, sometimes past the cemetery or on concrete slabs through the forest.

You don't notice at first glance that the foothills also have some castles and palaces, because they are often a bit off the road. The water castle Kitzburg, the castle ruins Hemmerich or the castle Rösberg are mentioned here.

The climb up to Rösberg that we have chosen is certainly the best known: From the exit of Merten, the route leads straight for half a kilometer in the direction of Rösberg. A gentle combination of curves introduces the second half. The slope between the houses increases and gradually leads into the old town center. At the latest when the water tower from 1909 comes into view, it will be done: the "Côte de Rösberg" has been climbed.

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The Tour of Flanders has its “Kappelmuur”, Paris - Roubaix the “Forest of Arenberg” and around Cologne the roughly paved approach up to Bensberg Castle.

The comparison mentioned above is probably not quite right, but in fact the cobblestone passage has become the landmark of Germany's oldest one-day race still in existence. This is where the audience romps around and applauds the drivers who struggle up the 100-meter-long, dead-straight route to the castle.

Schlossstrasse is one of the few paved climbs in the greater Cologne area and therefore a must for all cycling fans in the region. If you collect funny Bergisch place names on your routes and want to add a highlight to your collection, we recommend continuing through the “Zuckerhütchen” district.

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One of our favorite Cols is the route up to Halberg: a little over a kilometer long, an average of 7.6 percent steep and more curves than Ulle at Christmas time.

Immediately behind the Donrath triangle, a steep ramp leads up to the Finale Furioso: it is like hairpins on the Stelvio. As soon as you have found a rhythm through the winding serpentines, redemption is already in sight.

In the shade of an ancient summer linden tree, the Halberg chapel, consecrated to Sankt Isidor, crowns the top of the pass. Take a deep breath and send a short "www" to heaven - Saint Isidore is the patron saint of the internet.

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The planners who rebuilt the village of Berrenrath at the current location in the post-war period did a great job and created a cycling legend that is hard-fought in the region with the almost 600-meter-long ramp.

It is definitely not a beauty: A dead straight asphalt road, spanned by a massive concrete bridge. Instead of the summit cross, Roaarleur awaits the former Berrenrath briquette factory on the Knapsacker hill.

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Do you have an irrepressible desire for lush pastures, an average 6.0 percent incline and non-rhythmic staccato like mechanical engineers when dancing? Then we have a good 1,300 meters of spring fever for your calves.

At Wahlscheid you cross the Agger and immediately behind Don Caruso's beer garden it goes steeply uphill. Don't worry: it flattens out again just after the curve - take a deep breath and gather strength for the final third. If the horses run away with you now, you can park them in the paddock on the right. A wide curve to the left and the top of the pass is reached.

Now all that remains to be answered is the most important of all questions: Right along to a piece of cake at the Gammersbacher Mühle or left to the Pfaffen Brewery with a view of Cologne?

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Today's Col takes us to the southwest slope of the Ville and exudes a touch of Flanders (without the smell of pig manure).

The Bergstrasse in the tranquil Metternich is a real wall. Half a kilometer of pain that actually begins quite peacefully. The quiet Swistbach, the Metternich moated castle, the half-timbered Hotel zum Schwan, the small parish church of St. Johannes. But from then on it becomes unchristian: a 20 percent incline, an asphalt ramp into the sky above the Ville. From the houses to the left and right of the route, questioning faces look at those zigzagging: "Why the hell are you doing what you are doing?"

But the ascension ends after the roundabout. The street becomes flatter and leads left over the Villerücken in the direction of Rösberg - recognizable from a distance by the water tower built in 1919.

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The ascent from Nieder- to Oberwennerscheid is a real insider tip. It runs parallel to the main road leading through the Wahnbachtal and starts right behind the sawmill at the Hausermühle. There you cross the Wahnbach and turn sharply left onto the poorly paved path that leads steeply up through a dark coniferous forest.

With a little imagination, you can imagine yourself here in the high mountains. In any case, this idea should not be difficult for the legs, given the gradient of up to 12 percent. After a good 500 meters you leave the forest and reach a hill with a great view over lush, curving pastures. Depending on the oxygen balance, this can even be enjoyed.

After another 300 meters you will reach the top of the pass and continue towards Oberwennerscheid on the ridge height. If you feel like taking a little break, we recommend the café of the same name in Gutmühle. You can then build the next slope up to Seelscheid via Gutmühlenweg.

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Anyone who crosses the Bergisches Land from valley to valley could get the impression of being in the "mountainous land". Incline follows incline and makes driving in Bergisch a real challenge for bad legs.

You need good legs for the route from Oberselbach up to the tranquil Bärbroich. The 1,300-meter climb starts flat, but after the curve in the middle of the route it stretches like the season finale of "How I Met Your Mother".

Until a few years ago, the route mostly led through dense forest, but the spruce dying in recent years has also changed the appearance of the landscape around Bärbroich. And so the forest thins out towards the summit, like Tom Boonen's hairstyle.

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Don't trust anyone who claims that the Glessenerhöhe is just an overburden heap. fake news! The "Monte Glessano" is the place of pilgrimage for cyclists in the otherwise flat west of Cologne. At 205 meters high, it is not only the highest elevation in the Rhein-Erft district, its two-kilometer-long, even gradient is said to have served one or the other professional as preparation for the difficult mountain stages of the tour.

The only bend on the way up, where there is always a bit of gravel lurking for the pilgrims, can also be described as legendary.

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Its fantastic location in the valley of the Dhünn makes the "Altenberger Dom" a popular excursion destination. For us Rhenish mountain goats, however, the cathedral is only a minor matter. Because here there are two attractive climbs to master, both of which were already part of the route of “Rund um Köln”: the ascent from Altenberg to Blecher and the - in our opinion more attractive - up to Neschen at the foot of the Dhünntalsperre.

The first kilometer leads through dense forest and comes up with three full-blown hairpin bends and steep incline percentages. If you look back, you look at the Altenberg Cathedral, if you look ahead, you see how the numbers on the speedometer are getting lower and lower.

We reach an intermediate plateau that offers a little relaxation before the road towards Grimberg climbs moderately again. At the height of Hüttchen there is a short descent: it is essential to take the momentum with you on the final climb to Neschen!

Not only cyclists have a fine nose for serpentines. Especially on sunny weekends there are lots of motorbikes on the route - so watch out!

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The spoil dump, located south of Grevenbroich in the Rhenish lignite mining area, is known to many as the "Mont Ventoux of the Rhineland". Its exposed location and the three possible driveways make the Vollrather Höhe a popular destination for cyclists in the region. In addition, there is no other way to go uphill here far and wide.

The 1,700 meter long approach from Allrath to the hill is perhaps less attractive. But it offers more cycling ambience, because a mountain time trial takes place here every year. The increase is definitely not to be underestimated: it is irregular. A short descent pretends that it is now done, but behind the curve it goes uphill again until the plateau is reached.

Incidentally, it is named after the Vollrath estate, which stood here until 1953.

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A real top model from Col is the "Schönrather Straße" from Münchenberg to Oberschönrath. It has nothing more to offer than a sweeping curve carved into the green slope and a fabulous view over the Cologne Bay. Both can be enjoyed better downhill than uphill. The approach via the busy Sülztalstraße is also a bit capricious.

The climb, which is almost seven percent steep on average, starts out quite steeply. Parallel to the Kupfersiefer Bach you pass the hamlet of Münchenberg and work your way up to the highlights mentioned above. At about the height of the Stöcker farm, after a little over a kilometer you have reached the top of the pass. With a little smell of manure in your nose, you can enjoy the spectacular view of Cologne and the nearby airport.

To continue the journey, we recommend the little-used road via Schönrath Castle to Gammersbacher Mühle.

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Drive up to a place with the hauntingly beautiful name of Todenfeld... seriously? Yes, but! The Col, which is just before the state border with Rhineland-Palatinate, has established itself as a popular entry point into the Ahrgebirge of the Eifel or as a southern turning point for exits from Cologne. Part of the reason for this is the Permanente, who collects almost 190 vertical meters here every week during winter training.

Behind Rheinbach, turn left at the Waldhotel and then straight up through the Rheinbach Forest with a moderate incline percentage. A first striking feature of the ascent is the forest chapel. The beech log cast in silver, which had given the place of pilgrimage ecclesiastical importance, had to be replaced by a replica after it was stolen, but the further ascent is uphill

This Col de Cologne is just outside the gates of Cologne in tranquil Fischenich. And who now says "Huh? You're supposed to be able to drive uphill?", which should be said: "Arrived at the top, best panoramic view!".The col leads us to Gennerstraße. After the roundabout at Rosellenplatz, the incline increases noticeably. A typical Rhenish mixture of architectural mistakes, brick houses and grotesque facades passes our eyes. About halfway through, we wonder about a turquoise patterned house wall (a hint of Lisbon's Bairro Alto), but then the smell of snack food from the Olympic grill gets in our noses and pulls us up the next few meters.Now it's time to hold on to the top of the pass, on which the butcher's shop Kuhl is enthroned. Connoisseurs turn right, roll out on the Schneeberg and enjoy the wonderful view over the Cologne Bay at the entrance to Kendenich.