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Hiking trails & Routes

Germany

North Rhine-Westphalia

Rhein-Erft-Kreis

Erftstadt

Lake Franziskus – Donatus Lake loop from Erftstadt

Routes

Hiking trails & Routes

Germany

North Rhine-Westphalia

Rhein-Erft-Kreis

Erftstadt

Lake Franziskus – Donatus Lake loop from Erftstadt

Moderate

4.7

(307)

966

hikers

Lake Franziskus – Donatus Lake loop from Erftstadt

03:20

12.8km

90m

Hiking

Moderate hike. Good fitness required. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels. The starting point of the route is accessible with public transport.

Last updated: April 23, 2026

Tips

Your route passes through a protected area

Please check local regulations for:

Naturpark Rheinland

Waypoints

Start point

Train Station

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2.97 km

Lake Franziskus

Highlight • Lake

Lake Franziskus is one of more than two dozen bodies of water in the "Ville" region between Brühl and Liblar, offering hikers wonderful variety during walks in the woods. Historically, this area, now a protected landscape within the Rhineland Nature Park, was formerly a mining area. Brown coal was mined here in open-cast mines long ago.

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4.33 km

Untersee (Ville Lake Chain)

Highlight • Lake

Unter -, Mittel- and Obersee Ville is a chain of three lakes separated by narrow dams in the large forest-lake landscape of the Ville. They are part of the subsequent landscape of early lignite mining from the end of the 19th to the middle of the 20th century, which still characterizes the entire area today. The surrounding, forested deciduous and mixed deciduous forests stand on recultivated land, recognizable by the many woody species, including many locals, but also pines, robinia and red oaks in a few age groups. The lakes represent remaining holes that have filled with water as the groundwater rises and are largely left to their further development. Since forest reclamation in 1925, they have been surrounded by forest, which reduces the nutrient input from the outside, which benefits biodiversity.

Significant in North Rhine-Westphalia, but largely hidden from visitors, are the lawns made of candelabrum algae (so-called characeae lawn), which of the three mesotrophic waters mainly contains the Untersee. It is easier to see the variety of riparian and aquatic plants with large reed belts and extensive floating leaves from spawn herbs, pond and water lilies. They attract a large number of dragonflies that have become rare, which leads to the outstanding biodiversity of up to 32 species.

Source: natur-erleben-nrw.de

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6.05 km

Forest path in Naturpark Rheinland

Highlight • Trail

If you like walking on small paths and not on wide hiking trails, this is the place for you.

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8.55 km

Bench with a view of Villenhofer Maar

Highlight • Viewpoint

For me, the Villenhofer Maar is the most beautiful Ville lake. Large areas of the maar are overgrown with water lilies. Dragonflies settle here. There are many large fish in the water, which in the evening like to jump into the air and snap at insects. There are some nice benches to sit on and even two seats on jetties in the middle of the water.

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9.23 km

Zwillingssee Hut

Highlight • Mountain Hut

Massive, weatherproof hut for a cozy break to any weather.

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9.60 km

Donatus Lake

Highlight • Lake

The Donatussee belongs to the Villeseen area in the Rhineland Nature Park and is the deepest of all Villeseen. The chain of villas was created from the remaining holes in the open-cast brown coal mine. The lake got its name after the Donatus pit.

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