Düren: City-Country-River

Matching the name of the tour, we get to know all facets of the city on our bike route through Düren. The stronghold of the paper industry did not arise by chance near water, as it requires the precious liquid for this still successful industry branch. Not only does the Rur River flow through the city, but the mill ponds also shape its appearance. The accompanying floodplain landscape and parks provide a green touch to an otherwise urban character. The city-near circular route has the advantage of incorporating numerous places to stop for refreshments, making the relatively flat route a true pleasure tour. But there are also one or two sunny or shady spots perfect for a picnic, depending on the season.

Directions
We start at Düren train station and head north on Josef-Schregel-Straße, then onto Alte Jülicher Straße and Veldener Straße. After passing the Boss furniture store, we cross Veldener Straße at a pedestrian crossing and follow the signs to Düren bathing lake. Upon arrival, we turn left onto an agricultural path and cycle around the lake to the height of Derichsweiler. There, where we leave the lakeside path, we need to pay attention. Initially, the path splits and we keep left, going down over the wooden bridge, and shortly after, the path ascends towards B 264. Here it may be advisable to dismount and push the bike up the few meters. We then cross the main roads and head into Derichsweiler. Following Dampfmühlenstraße, we turn onto Derichsweilerstraße (towards the cemetery). This road leads us to the district of Gürzenich. At the end of the road, we turn left and follow along a short stretch parallel to Gürzenicher Bach. Upon reaching the opposite Sparkasse bank, we cross the stream and the road, continuing straight onto Ratsstraße. After about 300 meters, we turn left onto Am Wingert street and then right onto Laverweg after another 600 meters. We follow this road to the end in the district of Rölsdorf. At the T-junction, we turn left, cross Monschauer Straße after a few meters, and follow the street In der Mühlenau parallel to Birgeler Bach. We cross B 399 and continue straight on a short stretch of the foot/cycle path against the one-way street (cycling allowed!). Before the school center, we turn right onto Cornetzhof path. At the end of this path, we initially turn right and then immediately left. Following the foot/cycle path, we reach the path that runs directly along the Rur. Here we turn right and cycle upstream to the next bridge over the Rur. We cross the bridge and then turn right onto the RurUfer cycle path towards Kreuzau/Lendersdorf. At Schwanenbrücke, we leave the RurUfer cycle path, turn left, and follow the signposts of the Wasserburgen-Route towards Burgau Castle. We circle around Burgau Castle on the outer path, pass the animal shelter, cross the L 327, and continue straight on the Wasserburgen-Route. At Bildstock Muttergotteshäuschen, we turn left, pass a barrier at the edge of the forest, and after about 500 meters, turn left onto the Historical Hiking Trail Stockheim. At the bus stop, we once again cross L 327 and continue north towards Düren. At the end of the path, we turn left onto the somewhat bumpy Panzerstraße. At the next opportunity, we turn left (signposted nature reserve) and keep right behind the barrier. The path leads into a somewhat sloping hollow way, where it may be advisable to dismount and push the bike for a short distance. Upon reaching the bottom, we turn right onto a wide path through Burgauer Wald and continue towards Düren. At Dechant-Bohnekamp-Straße, we turn left and right at the traffic lights. We exit the roundabout at Europaplatz taking the 2nd exit (Nippestraße) and turn right directly behind Arena Kreis Düren. Initially following along Mühlenteich and crossing a bridge to the left into Holzbendenpark, we traverse the park along its outer edge to the end. At the end of the park, we continue straight on the foot/cycle path to B 264 / Stürtzstraße. Here we keep right and turn left at the next traffic lights into Oberstraße. This street leads us into Düren City, past Annakirche, and directly to the marketplace. We cross the market diagonally (please dismount on market days) and continue on Zehnthofstraße, passing StadtCenter towards Langemarckpark. Before the park, the street turns right and at the end, we turn left. On Josef-Schregel-Straße, we continue for a short distance back to our starting point of our bike tour at Düren train station.