Vennbahn 125 Reichensteiner Viadukt©vennbahn.eu, © vennbahn.eu

Ven­n­bahn Cycle Route

A jour­ney through three coun­tries on old rail­way lines

The rail­way line that once trans­por­ted coal and iron ore from Aachen to Lux­em­bourg now provides a mainly flat route for leis­urely cyc­ling.

The Vennbahn Radweg (Vennbahn Cycle Route) leads from Aachen to Monschau and on to Belgium and Luxembourg. At 125 kilometres, it is one of Europe’s longest cycle paths that runs on disused railway lines. It crosses the borders between the three countries more than a dozen times.

In the 19th century the Vennbahn railway was used to transport coal and iron ore from Aachen to Luxembourg and back again. The disused railway line has now been transformed into a cycle path, with many towns, villages and sights to discover along the way.

Highlights include the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Aachen Cathedral and the cloth-making town of Monschau, as well as St. Vith with its museum of local history and Burg-Reuland, both of which are in Belgium. The diverse countryside along the route is equally appealing: the trail heads past hedgerows, across moorland and heath landscapes, through deep forests and along idyllic river valleys.

Those who want to learn more about the route can discover the Vennbahn Stories. These entertaining anecdotes explain the background to coffee smuggling, the beech hedgerows and the importance of the Vennbahn as a transport link up until the early 1960s.

The Vennbahn offers fun and variety for recreational cyclists, families and those with sporting ambitions. The stretch can easily be completed in two to three daily stages. Only the beginning of the cycle path has a few slight slopes to overcome, with easier terrain the rest of the way.

 
Map of NRW

Tour overview

Info, data & tour route

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Distance in km
125
Duration in days
-
Walking/Journey time in hours
-

Highest point in metres
560
Uphill altitude difference
780
Downhill altitude difference
523
Tour Level
Level of difficulty
easy
  • Round trip
  • Family-friendly
  • Wheelchair-accessible

Images and videos

Be inspired: images of your NRW

Die Vennbahn führt durch ursprüngliche Heidelandschaften, © Tourismusagentur Ostbelgien, Dominik Ketz
At the Vennbahn along the hedges, © Dominik Ketz
Beeindruckende Buchenhecken liegen am Wegesrand der Vennbahn, © Dominik Ketz
Die Vennbahn, ein Bahntrassenradweg, führt auch übers Reichensteiner Viadukt, © vennbahn.eu

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