The Erft Bike Path

Cycling from the Eifel to the Rhine on approx. 110 km along the Erft! The ERft cycle path offers a colourful mix of historic towns, impressive castles and palaces, varied nature and brief glimpses of the industry of the Rhenish mining area.

The best and most comfortable way to reach the Erft spring is by train via Euskirchen to Nettersheim or Blankenheim. At the spring in Nettersheim-Holzmülheim you can cool off and fill up your water bottles before setting off for Bad Münstereifel. In scenic surroundings, after a short initial climb, the route is always downhill for around 15 km.

After a tour of the medieval town of Bad Münstereifel, the trail leads alongside the Erft out of the Eifel - past numerous former water mills. Here you should plan a detour to the LVR Industrial Museum Schauplatz Euskirchen, the former "Tuchfabrik Müller" in Kuchenheim.

The section that now follows, rich in water castles, leads through the Erftauen. Those who chose the detour via Kuchenheim follow the Erft-Mühlengraben back to the Erft - the signs of the "Wasserburgen-Route" show the way.

Between Weilerswist and Bergheim, the Erft once again offers a section rich in castles, although the straightened Erft must be left a few times: Kühlseggen Castle, Gracht Castle, the ruins of the Landesburg in Lechenich, Konradsheim Castle in Erftstadt-Konradsheim, the former guest house of the federal government at Gymnich Castle or Türnich Castle are just a few examples.

A 15 km detour to the UNESCO World Heritage castles of Augustusburg and Falkenlust in Brühl leads from Erftstadt-Blessem past Lake Liblar and the Heider Bergsee through the densely wooded area of the Rhineland Nature Park.

Motorsport fans should plan enough time in the area around Kerpen for a visit to the Michael Schumacher Kart & Event Centre.

On arrival in Bergheim, not only a brasserie with a beer garden awaits cyclists in Paffendorf Castle, but also the RWE Information Centre with an exhibition on the Rhenish Coalfield. Those who, after the theory, also want to take a look into one of the largest man-made holes on earth, choose - after a visit to Bedburg Castle - the path from medieval Alt-Kaster to the lookout point at the Garzweiler-Süd open-cast mine.

From Bedburg, the path always follows alongside the Erft, past the Frimmersdorf power station, into the local recreation area of Grevenbroich.

With Dyck Castle, the Museum Insel Hombroich and the Clemens-Sels Museum located somewhat off the beaten track, culture is the order of the day on this last stage - before the Erft flows into the Rhine. The extremely scenic trail along the Erft offers a 7 km branch off via Langwaden Monastery and Hülchrath Castle.