Beuys & Bike: To the an­niversary by bike

In the Lower Rhine landscape, where the Rhine is no longer hemmed in by mountains but has plenty of space to unfold, ideas and thoughts can spread just as freely. Joseph Beuys grew up on the downstream section of the Lower Rhine, just off the German-Dutch border. This is where he made friends, overcame crises, and found his way to art. A little further up the Rhine, additional formative encounters and artistic impulses shaped him later in life. Of course he influenced his surroundings in turn, leaving many traces that are worth exploring.

The new cycling route links places that played important roles in his life and work, such as his birthplace, his first studio, the Art Academy, important works, or museums and galleries that made his work known early on, in an active experience. Spanning about 300 kilometres from Kleve to Leverkusen, Beuys & Bike can be broken down into individual stages to match the cyclist’s mood, providing an active holiday with culture.

No matter if you are looking for a day trip or a multiple-day cycling holiday: Riding your bike on this trail will not only introduce you to the artist and his work, but also to the Lower Rhine, which is well worth visiting with its busy cities, historical town centres, magnificent palaces, and undisturbed wetland meadows. Feel just like Joseph Beuys, whose early childhood experiences included regular cycling tours with his father, always accompanied by the vast expanse around them, the sky high overhead and the river by their side.