The best road cycling routes in Städteregion Aachen

As early as the birth of Christ, the first buildings were erected here - buildings that belonged to a Gallo-Roman temple complex. The name of the temple district was Varnenum, according to an inscription. Source: https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kornelim%C3%BCnster or https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Varnenum

Always nice to ride

No photos here – the descent to Eynatten is simply too enjoyable to stop for. It provides access to the Pre-RAVeL route towards Kelmis or the beautiful Raeren – Eupen route. For short after-work rides, a quick detour towards Berlotte/Sief is also possible here.

Beautiful brick church in the center of Hergenrath.

Schin op Geul is a picturesque church village in the municipality of Valkenburg aan de Geul in the south of the Dutch province of Limburg. The village lies in the picturesque Geul Valley, surrounded by rolling hills, slopes, and forests typical of the South Limburg landscape and popular with hikers, cyclists, and nature lovers. Schin op Geul's existence goes back a long way, and its name was already mentioned in donation documents from the 9th century (847, 968) in favor of the Abbey of St. Remigius in Reims and the Provostry in Meerssen, making the village one of the oldest written records in the present-day Valkenburg aan de Geul region. The village itself has a typical South Limburg character with a historic center and a rural atmosphere. One of the most famous buildings is the Sint-Mauritiuskerkbeen church, which has a long history and stands high on a slope and is part of the local religious and cultural-historical identity of the village. Schin op Geul is located on the Maastricht–Heerlen railway line, with its own station dating from 1913. It now serves both regular local trains and the Zuid-Limburgse Stoomtrein Maatschappij (South Limburg Steam Train Company), which offers tourist trips on a nostalgic steam locomotive to Simpelveld. The area surrounding Schin op Geul is particularly attractive for active visitors. The village is a great starting point for walks and bike rides through the hilly landscape, including routes along the Geul River and to nearby nature reserves like the Gerendaln, known for its dry valleys, orchids, and tranquility. Schin op Geul is also a popular destination for cyclists, as the famous Keutenberg climb from the Amstel Gold Race begins right in the village. This climb is one of the steepest in the Netherlands, with sections of up to approximately 22% gradient, making the village an icon in the cycling world. Furthermore, in and around Schin op Geul you'll find restaurants, bed and breakfasts, bungalow parks, campsites, and charming terraces along the Geul River, making the village a perfect holiday destination for guests who want to enjoy the tranquility of nature and Limburg hospitality. From Schin op Geul, you can also take historical walks, such as routes that take you along old paths, streams, and meadows with views of highlights like the Daolkesberg and the slopes of the Geul Valley.

The village of Eys lies amidst the renowned hilly landscape of South Limburg, which distinguishes itself from the rest of the Netherlands with its rolling meadows, steep slopes, and panoramic vistas. From various hiking and cycling trails around Eys, you can experience beautiful views of the village and its surroundings, especially when you hike uphill and look out over the Eyserbeek valley, the surrounding fields, and sweeping slopes. One of the most famous spots for such a view is along the paths towards Eyserbosweg and Doeveberg, where hiking trails take you to points with open perspectives over Eys and the South Limburg landscape. From here, the green hills stretch out in all directions, offering views of meadows, forests, and sometimes even the region's vineyards. These panoramas are so beloved that they are often captured by photographers and artists as quintessential South Limburg landscapes that evoke the feeling of standing on a Tuscan hillside. Hiking trails like the Gulpen-Wittem Wi3 take you through the area around Eys, with frequent viewing points where you can stop to take photos or simply enjoy the view. On clear days, you can see far across the forests and hills, with the village of Eys itself forming part of the picturesque panorama that makes this region so popular with hikers and cyclists. Thanks to Eys's location on a ridge and the presence of natural contour lines, the area offers places where you can literally stand on top of the slope and look down on the village center and the surrounding valley. This makes the view one of the most beautiful features of the South Limburg landscape, a landscape often praised in hiking guides and artworks for its atmosphere and beauty.

New surface installed some time ago!

Valkenburg has been one of the Netherlands' most important holiday destinations since around 1840, and tourism is the municipality's main source of income. This has much to do with the medieval town's picturesque location, but the extensive labyrinths of underground quarries also played an important role from the very beginning. However, the original idea of using the caves for air cures never came to fruition.