Three Rivers Tour
Metropolitan flair, tranquil countryside and historic villages
This circular cycle route not only connects the Rhine, Ahr and Erft rivers, it also juxtaposes large cities with historic villages, and Ro-man remains with knight’s castles.
After the storm on 14 July 2021, large parts of the Three Rivers Tour along the Ahr and Erft rivers are not navigable. As an alternative, the new Two Rivers Tour has been conceived, linking the Rhine and the Erft on a circular short course of around 240 kilometres.
The Three Rivers Tour is an almost 300 kilometre circuit linking the Rhine, Ahr and Erft rivers. With relatively few inclines, the path nonetheless offers plenty of variety. Just off the path, on the Rhine, the cities of Cologne and Bonn await with their metropolitan flair. Cyclists can discover both sides of the river thanks to numerous bridges and ferries.
Following the Rhine downstream, the route passes through the tranquil Ahr Valley. With its wine festivals and taverns, the “Tal des Rotweins” (“Red Wine Valley”) is a convivial place to stop off. The historic town centres of Ahrweiler and Blankenheim, which is famous for its castle and as the source of the Ahr, provide an insight into the region’s medieval past.
Just 10 kilometres further on, cyclists will find the source of the Erft in Nettersheim-Holzmülheim. The onward route passes Roman remains, mighty castles from the age of chivalry, and magnificent palaces from the heyday of the Rhine nobility. Traces of the region’s recent industrial past can also be seen as the route passes enormous open-cast mining works.
After the Erft meets the Rhine, the last section of the cycle path heads back to Cologne, where cyclists have a wealth of art and culture highlights to choose from, including another chance to see Roman ruins.