For the time being the route runs through landscape formed by the Maas. Next to Swalmen is the proud Castle Hillenraedt. Everything here has to do with this castle, including the village of Boukoul and the farm Zuidewijk Spick, a little further on. Here the Pieterpad follows the old river courses of the Maas again to the place where the path crosses the disused railway line the "Iron Rhine". Roermond is far away due to the construction of highways. Now the route via Melick seeks the valley of the winding Rur to Sint Odiliënberg with the high abbey; what a beautiful picture. You reach Montfort through forests on up river dunes and the valley of the Vlootbeek. Along the way you will pass places where traces from Roman times have been found, including coin treasures. Montfort was hit by a bombing raid in 1944. The mass grave in the cemetery is testimony to this. The reconstruction church with the separate tower is built in a sober style from Maas stones.