Autumn stories from the Lower Rhine

Taking a cosy break in one of the many charming farm cafés on the Lower Rhine is simply a must. Fragrant coffee, fresh cake that brings back childhood memories and a cosy atmosphere. Lovely places to take a break round off every extended cycle tour. The vast landscapes make the region a true cycling paradise. But there are more than just culinary highlights to discover here. Because the Lower Rhine is also a meadowland. This autumnal island landscape with its meadows - too beautiful. And from late autumn to winter, visitors are treated to a true spectacle of nature. A cackling spectacle of nature.

Everyone out to the Lower Rhine!

Outside, the wind whistles and blows the reddish-brown coloured leaves from the trees. A soft mist lies over the wide fields where the first wild geese have already taken up residence. In a few weeks, there will be huge flocks spending the winter here. What am I saying, tens of thousands of geese will create a unique natural spectacle in the floodplain landscape of Bislicher Insel. But it is still quiet on this early morning. Can you see those two on their colourful bikes? They're doing it just right. Thickly wrapped up, with hats, scarves and gloves, the young couple set off to capture this very special autumn atmosphere. When the air is still a little damp and it smells of fresh earth and moss. Later on, they'll come round to my place and I'll surprise them with homemade cake and a hot cup of tea or coffee. Let's see what the season has to offer. Plums perhaps. Or maybe apple pie. Aren't quinces in season too? I'll ask the farmer in the neighbourhood.

Oh, sorry, I haven't even introduced myself yet. I'm one of the many cosy farm cafés that invite you to stop for a bite to eat along the extensive network of cycle paths here on the Lower Rhine. There are 2,000 kilometres in total. That's an impressive number, isn't it? But even better: there are hardly any hills or even mountains in the region. Instead, the paths lead through forests and wide fields, past rivers and through historic old towns such as Xanten. The attraction there is, of course, the archaeological park with its enormous harbour temple and huge amphitheatre. But did you also know that the city with the unusual three-storey city gate has recently been recognised as a UNESCO World Heritage Site? More precisely, it is the Lower Germanic Limes, which used to run here. In other words, way back when the Romans were still here on the Lower Rhine.

But back to my cosy living room. I have to admit, I'm a little nostalgic. And I love old junk. Coffee pots and porcelain from grandma's day, old tube radios and baroque landscapes in oil. Slates and old cupboards. I always particularly like my decorations in autumn. I like these warm colours, dried ears of corn and grasses. And when the fire flickers in the fireplace, I'm not the only one who feels cosy.

Ah, here come my guests. They have parked their bikes in the backyard and are now rubbing their hands together. They look a little frozen. But I'm here to warm them up. "It's nice and cosy here," I hear them say. So nice and warm - and cosy. I listen for a while. It must have been worth getting up early. Because even the cows at the side of the road came very close to the gate as the two of them cycled past. They also passed castles and fortresses, which seem somewhat enchanted in the early hours of the morning. And again and again at small and large farms. There are many regional products to buy here. From home-grown fruit and vegetables to meat. But also homemade jams and honey, liqueurs and juices. That's the way it is here in the countryside, everything is home-made. It tastes particularly good that way! I think the two of them will stay a little longer ...