Cycling in the Rhineland – where nature and culture combine

The Rhenish Apple Route leads 124 kilometers through the largest fruit and vegetable growing region in North Rhine-Westphalia. Here we introduce you to the section from Alfter to Rheinbach, which is a relaxed day tour through the Rhineland region with almost 60 kilometers and 340 meters of altitude.In addition to flowering orchards, plantations and great views over the (fruit) cultural landscape, there are castles from different eras and many dreamy, small villages to discover that highlight the age and traditions of this region. Cycling on the apple route in late summer and autumn also means that you will see heavily draped fruit trees everywhere waiting for the harvest - fruits that you can buy directly from the grower in the farm shops!Numerous cafés, restaurants and farm shops take care of your physical well-being along the way, as well as food vending machines in the fruit farms, which are accessible around the clock. If you want to learn something on your bike tour or if you have your children with you, you will find information on regional agriculture and cultural landscapes at our adventure stations.

This tour runs initially on the Balkan Terrace, then on the Bergisches Panorama Cycle Path, which is also a disused railway line. You cycle a total of almost 50 kilometers on traffic-free, only for cyclists, paths through the Bergisches Land. Where trains used to drive industrialization, today you can discover breathtaking natural panoramas, rural idyll and urban life.Both cycle paths are part of the Panorama cycle path network. The name says it all: for the majority of the tour you will cycle through wonderful landscapes, experience one of the many breathtaking dams or marvel at the lovingly restored old houses and town centers in small towns like Wermelskirchen. You won't be short of food and drink either: the villages along the railway route are geared towards cyclists and offer everything from breakfast to hearty lunch and snacks to a well-deserved nightcap after a day's work.Do not let the height profile of the tour unsettle you: trains are not designed to master steep mountain sections. Therefore, the incline is usually so gentle that you won't even notice it. Should you still lose your strength on the way or the weather does not play along, the Bergische FahrradBus runs between March and October on weekends and public holidays, and it will take you with you at any time. E-bikes can also be transported without any problems.

The Siegradweg follows the river of the same name from its confluence with the Rhine to Windeck. It leads you over 64 kilometers over dikes, through floodplains, forests and past cultural and historical sights. You actually always have the river in view.The castle ruins near Windeck or in Blankenberg are worthwhile detours from the bike path, as are the Seligenthal monastery and Merten Castle.In terms of catering, there are always opportunities for a short or long break with coffee and cake or something hearty. Should you or your bike fail in between, there is always a train station nearby, as the bike path runs parallel to the S-Bahn route to Cologne. You can also plan your arrival and departure car-free and do not have to drive back to the starting point after the end of your tour.

The Erft cycle path runs along the Erft for a distance of about 110 kilometers from Nettersheim to the confluence with the Rhine near Neuss. We introduce you to the second section of the cycle path from Weilerswirt.The Rhenish Bay is a scenic jewel of North Rhine-Westphalia, which, in addition to its wonderful nature through old Roman excavations, also has medieval castles and magnificent palaces from the Baroque period to offer. Over 75 kilometers of constantly gently sloping terrain, the focus of this tour is clearly on panoramic enjoyment. Speaking of enjoyment: the numerous restaurants along the way mean that you won't miss out on physical well-being.By connecting to the Rhine Cycle Route and other attractive tours in the region, it is easy to integrate the Erft Cycle Route into a longer long-distance cycle tour and to explore North Rhine-Westphalia even more intensively.

The moated castle route leads across a total of 470 kilometers through the area with the most moated castles in Europe, past over 120 castles and palaces. There is no such collection anywhere else! A good reason to take a closer look at the area between Aachen, Bonn and Cologne from this point of view.We present the section between Bad Godesberg and Bedburg. This covers around 90 kilometers and mostly runs with gentle inclines. Of course, you can also drive this section in several days so that you have more time to explore the castles.In addition to all of the culture, there is also the beautiful landscape to marvel at: you cycle through idyllic river valleys, agricultural landscapes and always have the Siebengebirge in view on this section. In addition, there are lovingly restored historical town centers, monasteries, mills and, of course, plenty of opportunities for refreshment.

The stage from Bonn to Leverkusen will be a bit more urban than the other stages of the Rhine Cycle Path, but you can still look forward to beautiful sections through nature today. After you have left Bonn, you cross the Rhine and continue your bike tour on the right bank of the Rhine. Directly on the shore, you immerse yourself in the beautiful nature of meadows, forests and wide fields. Again and again you drive through small and large places that lie like pearls on a string on the banks of the Rhine.You get to Cologne through the Westhovener Aue. Here you cycle directly along the Rhine and the impressive Cologne bridges and enjoy a beautiful view of the city with the Cologne Cathedral. A long break, during which you can explore the old town and take a leisurely break, is definitely worthwhile in Cologne. Then you cycle the last kilometers of the stage on the flat bike path to the stage destination Leverkusen.