On the left bank of the Rhine along the Rhine Cycle Route

Best regards to Beethoven

On the left bank of the Rhine, the route begins in southern North Rhine-Westphalia, in Bonn-Bad Godesberg. It passes by old willows and ferries. Flat and close to the water. Just a few kilometers later, the bike path reaches the former federal capital of Bonn. In 1770, Ludwig van Beethoven was born in a house on Bonngasse. The birthplace, a rear building in the city center, has long since become a pilgrimage site for music lovers from all over the world. Along the Museum Mile, outstanding museums line up one after another. At the Haus der Geschichte, visitors can trace German history from the post-war period to the present day.

Baroque splendor and Rococo grandeur

The palaces of Augustusburg and Falkenlust are not far from Bonn. Their Baroque splendor shines far beyond the borders of Brühl. The two palaces are connected by an avenue in the sprawling palace park. Since 1984, the two Brühl palaces, along with their gardens and parks, have been listed as UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Those who prefer to take it easy on their tour and can manage a few hours or days without the Rhine can explore other routes through the Rhein-Erft district. The Erft Cycle Path passes by Türnich Castle, which Count Severin has transformed into a true gem for day-trippers from across the region.

Savoir Vivre and Dolce Vita Around the Cathedral

From a distance, the two towers of the next UNESCO World Heritage Site, Cologne Cathedral, are visible. The route to it leads through the Rheinauhafen, where the three spectacular Kranhäuser tower over the Rhine. Cycling beneath the oversized L-shaped buildings, cyclists reach the cozy Old Town with its lively Rhine promenade, where restaurateurs compete to win over guests. A detour deeper into the maze of alleys is well worth it: Cologne’s renowned brewers offer their numerous Kölsch varieties and other delicacies here. The route continues along the left bank of the Rhine, past Cologne’s industrial port and the Ford automobile plant, to the former customs fortress of Zons. The charming town center, complete with a well-preserved mill and city wall, takes cyclists on a journey back in time to the Middle Ages.

Museum Insel Hombroich

The Museum Insel Hombroich is as green and flower-filled as Sleeping Beauty’s castle: it is situated in the middle of the renaturalized park landscape in Neuss-Holzheim, on the left bank of the Rhine. Those who descend the steps at the end of the ticket booth enter the floodplain landscape of the Erft and thus one of the most enchanting art destinations in Europe. Here, art and nature coexist on equal footing and in harmony.

Bauhaus architecture and historic town centers

Continuing along the left bank of the Rhine, the route follows the dikes and the riverbank toward Krefeld: The Haus Esters and Haus Lange museums showcase Bauhaus architecture by Mies van der Rohe from the 1920s. And at the Kaiser Wilhelm Museum, visitors can marvel at a collection comprising some 14,000 works spanning painting, sculpture, graphic art, photography, and new media. The medieval Linn Castle in the historic center of Linn is particularly romantic and situated in a somewhat quieter setting. In the castle, a hunting lodge, and an archaeological museum, visitors gain insight into life in the Lower Rhine region across various centuries. In the narrow streets of Linn’s town center, cyclists can enjoy a coffee or an ice cream during a break.

Romantic floodplain landscapes on the Lower Rhine

Further along the route between Wesel and Xanten lies the Bislicher Insel floodplain. Every year, thousands of wild geese spend the winter in this romantic water landscape. From October to February, they appear in formations in the sky or settle down on green meadows. Visitors can observe them up close with binoculars. Geese, beavers, and great white egrets also call this floodplain home. Vast fields and green river floodplains define the landscape of the Lower Rhine; no mountains block the view of the horizon here.

A Journey Back in Time to the Roman Colonia Ulpia Traiana

The Romans liked it here so much 2,000 years ago that they settled down and founded what is now Xanten. At the Xanten Archaeological Park, the remains of Colonia Ulpia Traiana invite you to take a detour into antiquity. An amphitheater, a harbor temple, craftsmen’s houses, and other reconstructions convey a vivid impression of daily life 2,000 years ago.

Not ancient, but historically charming, is the present-day downtown of this state-recognized climatic health resort. Surrounding the Gothic St. Viktor Cathedral are many charming late-Gothic townhouses from the second half of the 15th century. The Klever Gate, a remnant of the medieval city wall, is still well-preserved.

Just a little further down the Rhine, the small town of Kalkar offers the next worthwhile stop: with its market square paved with Rhine pebbles, a nearly 500-year-old court lime tree, narrow streets and footbridges, and Gothic houses, it transports visitors back to bygone times.

In Bedburg-Hau, the imposing Moyland Castle towers above the landscape. This stop is a must on the route, especially for culture enthusiasts. A total of 6,000 works by Joseph Beuys can be found here—the world’s largest collection. Beuys is one of the most important artists of the 20th century—born in Krefeld, the performance artist, sculptor, and draftsman was also a professor at the Düsseldorf Art Academy.