indeland: Grand castle tour

The northern region in the Düren district is a vivid example of the profound landscape and structural transformation caused by open-cast mining.
The indeland, named after the river of the same name that winds its way around the open-cast mine, has undergone profound changes in recent decades and will continue to do so in the future. A huge lignite pit was created, for which numerous villages were excavated and people with their families were relocated. Upon completion of the open-cast mining, the remaining pit, as well as the Garzweiler and Hambach open-cast mines, will be flooded, and in a few years an impressive lake landscape with diverse leisure activities will emerge here.
But even today, there is much to discover, as nature and culture in the indeland are rich in treasures. During our tour, we pass numerous castles and palaces, as the region is one of the richest in castles in the country. We drive along the base of the Sophienhöhe, through the Brückenkopf-Park in Jülich, past the Roman Park and the Mining Museum in Aldenhoven, and also the Indemann leisure facility and the Langewehe Pottery Museum are on our route.
Directions
During our tour of the indeland, we mainly follow the signposting of the Water Castles Route and the RurUfer Cycle Path.
From our starting point at Langerwehe train station, we initially head southeast and ride down Bahnhofstraße to the junction (KNP) 42 at the roundabout. From here, we follow the signposted Water Castles Route via KNP 44 to KNP 45 in Derichsweiler and pass by Castle Merode along the way (private property, the grounds are only accessible during events, such as the Romantic Christmas Market!). At KNP 45, we leave the Water Castles Route and follow the signpost towards Derichsweiler and KNP 9, which we follow to the Rur in Düren. At KNP 9, we switch to the RurUfer Cycle Path heading north (Jülich/Merken) and now follow the course of the Rur and the accompanying RurUfer Cycle Path to KNP 11 near Krauthausen. From KNP 11, we return to the Water Castles Route and turn right towards Niederzier/Krauthausen/KNP 94. In Niederzier (historic water castle, now the seat of the municipal administration), we continue towards Elsdorf/Hambach/KNP 94 and turn at the next intersection onto L 12 towards Jülich/Hambach. In Hambach, two highlights await, Castle Obbendorf (now a hotel and event location) and Hambach Castle. Beyond Hambach on L 264, we head towards Jülich/Stetternich. In Stetternich, we briefly leave the Water Castles Route and follow the signposting to KNP 95, then towards Aldenhoven/Jülich/KNP 13. Along the way, we pass Wassermühle Lindenberg. At Jülich train station, we rejoin the Water Castles Route and follow it towards Aldenhoven/KNP 13. In Jülich, we pass by the citadel and through Brückenkopf-Park towards Koslar. We stay on the Water Castles Route until Blausteinsee, passing by Haus Overbach and the Deutschordenskommende von Siersdorf. At KNP 84 at Blausteinsee, we leave the Water Castles Route, drive into the village of Fronhoven, past Gasthof Rinkens and turn left behind it onto Wiesenstraße, continuing straight until leaving the village. We follow the cycle path signage to Gedächtniskapelle Lohn, where we turn right after a stop. From the viewpoint at Gedächtniskapelle Lohn, we can see the Inden open-cast mine in the distance. Below us, the new Inde river meanders, and we follow it towards Inden. The cycle path along the renatured Inde requires careful riding and possibly occasional dismounting, as the path under the bridges or conveyor belts of the Inden open-cast mine is very gravelly. After leaving the valley of the new Inde, we can already see the steel Indemann, which we can only reach via a detour. Otherwise, we follow the cycle path signage and continue towards KNP 39 in Lamersdorf, then towards KNP 41 towards Düren/Inden, and onwards towards KNP 42 Luchem/Langerwehe back to our starting point in Langerwehe.
Note
The castles and palaces on our route are mostly privately owned and not accessible - or only on certain occasions. Please respect the privacy of the residents and pay attention to the corresponding signs.