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Routes

Bike touring routes & trails

Germany

North Rhine-Westphalia

Rhein-Erft-Kreis

Bedburg

View of Hambach Open-Pit Mine – Erft Cycle Path near Bergheim loop from Königshoven

Routes

Bike touring routes & trails

Germany

North Rhine-Westphalia

Rhein-Erft-Kreis

Bedburg

View of Hambach Open-Pit Mine – Erft Cycle Path near Bergheim loop from Königshoven

Moderate

4.6

(74)

232

riders

View of Hambach Open-Pit Mine – Erft Cycle Path near Bergheim loop from Königshoven

02:40

43.8km

110m

Cycling

Moderate bike ride. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels. The starting point of the route is accessible with public transport.

Last updated: July 9, 2026

Tips

Includes a segment in which cycling is not permitted

After 15.5 km for 77 m

Waypoints

Start point

Bus stop

Get Directions

12.7 km

Hambach Open-pit Mine Viewpoint

Highlight • Viewpoint

The Hambach opencast mine is one of three remaining active opencast mines in the Rhenish lignite mining area. It is the largest lignite mine in Europe and is located in the middle of the lignite mining area between the municipality of Niederzier and the town of Elsdorf. The Hambach opencast mine was started in 1978 near the Niederzier district of Hambach and is over 350 meters deep. 1.35 billion tons of brown coal are stored beneath its 85 square kilometer mining field. Around 40 million tons of coal are mined every year.

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15.5 km

Viewpoint Terra Nova – Hambach Open-Pit Mine

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With an operating area of 4,380 hectares (2017) and an approved maximum size of the mining field of 8,500 hectares, Hambach is the largest lignite mine in Europe. According to RWE, an estimated 4,500 million tons of lignite were stored at a depth of up to 500 meters in the 1973/74 financial year. Around 2011, an estimated 1,772 million tons of lignite were still available for mining and around 40 million tons of lignite were mined annually on this area. The lignite originated from extensive forests and moors that developed in the Lower Rhine Bay between 30 and 5 million years ago. The geology of the Lower Rhine Bay is characterized by long-lasting subsidence movements over the last 30 million years. These have led to the deposition of a sediment package up to 1300 m thick through the North Sea and through many rivers. Today there are lignite seams up to 100 m thick.

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15.7 km

Forum :terra nova – View of the Hambach open‑pit mine

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The Forum :terra nova is located directly at the Hambach opencast mine and offers a breathtaking view of the largest lignite mine in Europe. The facade represents the colors and structure of the layers of earth from the opencast mine. In addition to gastronomy, the forum also functions as an event location and offers, for example, concerts (“Music with a View”), exhibitions and readings. Thanks to the spacious outdoor terrace, playground and e-bike charging stations, it is ideal for a long break.

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16.8 km

View of Hambach Open-Pit Mine

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An amazing insight into the Hambach opencast mine.
More information: de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tagebau_Hambach

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28.5 km

Erft Flood Canal

Highlight • River

This bridge over the Erft is a hub from which you can drive in many directions.

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30.0 km

Erft Cycle Path near Bergheim

Highlight • Cycleway

Very nice cycle path, in places a lot of people on the road

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33.2 km

Erft River near Bergheim

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Just like all the others, a beautiful section on the Erft, here the small Erft joins the Erft.

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34.8 km

Erft Cycle Path

Highlight (Segment) • Cycleway

Along the Erft is definitely worth it. With little slope and slope so not too exhausting so that you can enjoy the tour

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38.0 km

Ehemalige Klärteiche Bedburg

Nature Reserve

43.8 km

End point

Bus stop

Way Types & Surfaces

Way Types

21.4 km

9.13 km

8.33 km

2.82 km

2.12 km

Surfaces

29.5 km

5.40 km

3.77 km

3.42 km

1.12 km

577 m

Elevation

Nothing selected – click and drag below to see the stats for a specific part of the route.

Weather

Thursday 9 July

29°C

14°C

-- %

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Comments

June 18, 2023,🚴‍♂️ Die "Altstadtstuben-Tour" nach Bedburg ⛅️☁️🌥

It was time to visit the Altstadtstuben in Bedburg again. So got the bikes out, braved the weather and off we went.
And what can I say, it was worth it again. 😋
Kind regards
ℹ️🔻☮️

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April 19, 2026,Fahrradtour bis zum Tagebau Hambach 🪏

Today we wanted to take a look at the plundering of nature in the Hambach open-cast mine.
It's terrifying what has happened there, and soon... meaning very soon, there will only be water there 🤮
Otherwise, a great tour with many beautiful castles and palaces 🏰

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