Eastern Rureifelrunde

The Rureifel is the Eifel around the catchment area of the Rur (Roer), approximately between Monschau and Düren. The disadvantage of this area is that it is easily accessible for tourists, i.e. there are many federal highways (which can be heavily trafficked) through this area. The advantage of this route is that as many of these busy roads as possible are avoided (but they are not always avoidable, see later in the description).

Nice starting points for this route are Mechernich and Nideggen. Mechernich is easily accessible via the German A61 and A1 motorways. Nideggen is also easily accessible via the German A4 and the B56/L33. Nideggen also has a beautiful historic town centre. This route starts at the starting point Mechernich.

Around Mechernich, the landscape is characterized by hills with agriculture and small villages with many half-timbered houses. The northern part of the route has the greatest differences in altitude, around Heimbach, Nideggen and Gemünd. The ascent to Haus Kermeter is the longest climb on the route (5.5 kilometers in length). The southern part around Schleiden is characterized by steeper climbs with lengths of 1.5 to 2 km.

The route runs along many lonely, well-paved roads, which are closed to traffic, with the exception of agricultural traffic, the so-called farm roads. Part of the route is based on the RTF of the RadSportVerein Euskirchen.

The main road between Gemünd and Herhahn is completely bypassed by a very well paved road (on Lieberg/Haselnußweg) between the two villages. However, the federal highways cannot always be avoided: For example, the B265 is used as an exit from Kermeter to Gemünd (2.5 km), the B477 over 1.5 km through Mechernich and the B266 over 1 km in length as connecting pieces.

There are several roads with cycle paths on this route, namely the L11 between Berg and Nideggen, parts of the L249 between Nideggen and Abenden/Blens and the K28 between Bergheim and Mechernich.