Cycling in North Rhine-Westphalia

In olden days, the Vennbahn was the railway connection between Aachen and the North of Luxembourg. Today you’ll find an attractive cycling route on the path where the trains used to chug along. The route takes in three countries – Germany, Belgium and Luxembourg – and frequently skips back and forth across border lines.

Cycling in a circle might not sound exciting, but it is on the 250 kilometers (155 miles) long Paderborn country route. North Rhine-Westphalia is rich in natural beauty, historical sites and culture, so stopping frequently to take it all in is a must. The perfect starting point for the bike tour is the city of Paderborn, famous for its cathedral and the largest computer museum in the world.

Sauerland is different. Not as densely populated as the rest of North Rhine-Westphalia, yet close to its large cities, the quieter region is a natural sanctuary and very popular for day trips. The Sauerland cycle ring is 84 kilometers (52 miles) long and takes you on a circular tour with plenty of highlights – including a tunnel inhabited by bats.

This region is paradise for those looking for flat, comfortable rides. Over 500 kilometers (310 miles) along the Weser cycle path will gently take you through six regions all the way to the North Sea coast. It ends in the town of Cuxhaven, which has one of the largest fishing ports of Germany and a lovely sandy beach.

From Münster – a large university city known for its cathedral – head towards Teutoburger forest, a place steeped in legend and fairy tales. The German leg of Euro cycle route R1 takes cyclists through here, so you can easily follow the signs for R1 or D-route 3. The entire route leads from Boulogne-sur-mer to St. Petersburg, but that is for another day!