Vennbahn - Vennbahn

Vennbahn near Monschau

The Vennbahn is a Railway cycle path by the High Fens and the Ourtal and meanders from Aachen to Monschau above Saint-Vith to Troisvierges in Luxembourg. With several well-developed connections, the cyclist opens up a network of cycle paths of the highest quality.

Route profile

Junction signposting in NRW
Signpost in Belgium
Signpost in Luxembourg
  • Length: 125 km (2 km to the main station)
  • Signposting: very good, as "Vennbahn" and also as "RAVeL" (Réseau Autonome de Voies Lentes).
  • Slopes: Where the railway line is used, the route has a maximum gradient of 3%. There are steeper sections (up to 12%) in the local area of ​​Sankt-Vith, in the Ourtal and in Luxembourg.
  • Path condition: in Germany mostly asphalt, in Belgium (from Hemmeres) sections with a water-bound cover, in Luxembourg only fine asphalt.
  • Traffic load: In Germany the Vennbahn is free of traffic except for crossings. In Belgium there are short sections for motor vehicles. Approved. There are also short sections on local and country roads.
  • Suitable bike: simple, roadworthy everyday bike is sufficient. From Lengeler 7-speed shift required.
  • Family suitability: suitable for families and seniors
  • Inline suitability: very good between Raeren and Lammersdorf, Leykaul and Faymonville.

background

Before the First World War, the “Vennbahn” railway connected the industry in the Aachen district by the shortest route with Luxembourg, which supplied iron ore, among other things. It ran entirely on German territory and was also of strategic military importance. After the First World War, the westernmost part of the Rhine Province went to Belgium, which restricted the operation of the railway line. The victorious powers determined that the railway line is Belgian territory. After the Second World War, the capacity utilization of the line, which was partially restored after the war, sank steadily, so that the line was finally completely shut down by 1989. A cycle path was laid out on the St. Vith - Waimes section as early as 2001. In Germany, construction of the cycle path began in 2008 in Aachen. On July 2nd, 2013 the cycle route was officially opened in St. Vith in a ceremony. Since whinchat nest in the area of ​​the trolley route, a bypass had to be built. The Lengeler Tunnel was not expanded because of bats, which is why the tour to Luxembourg is very arduous. The total costs of the project so far amount to 14.7 million euros [August 2013], with over 200,000 euros spent on advertising alone.

The Belgian section (also practically in Germany) is part of the RAVeL, i.e. the Walloon network of trails for slow traffic (hikers, riders and cyclists). The names of the former railway lines 47 and 48 ("Ligne 47" and "Ligne 48") have been added. Line 48 runs from Raeren to St. Vith. Behind Lommersweiler, a section of line 46 is used to bypass another, albeit closed, tunnel, then only the 47. Many RAVeL routes have kilometers, including the Vennbahn cycle path. With the exception of Waimes, all places are in German.

As part of a reorganization of the Walloon cycle path network, the Vennbahn has been given the number 9, which already appears on numerous signposts. The Vennbahn now forms the largest part of the route La Véloroute grandeur Nature(“Route of great nature”), which goes through Bastogne and then part of the EuroVelo- Route 5 will. The pré-RAVeL Ligne 618 follows the quiet valley of the Hohe Sauer Martelange (German Martelingen). There the border with Luxembourg is reached again, where the European route continues on railway cycle paths. It is planned to improve the quality of this technically not always good route.

In Luxembourg the Vennbahn, which is only 8 km long, has number 21 in the national cycle path network. The official and mother tongue in the north of Luxembourg is French.

Belgium: The green cycle path crosses the red country road. Drivers don't have to stop!

In 2015 the route is named Vennbahn Plus 16 partially connected "branch lines", mostly rounds, have been added. However, these routes, which can usually only be reached by driving, are not of RAVeL quality. The East Belgium side provides maps and tracks for these routes.

Riding on the bike path is prohibited in Germany.

Current

The southern section between Auel and Oudler is currently being expanded. The reconstruction of a historic bridge near Auel will probably take a long time, as the first groundbreaking has not yet taken place. In the future, the historic Vennbahntrasse will largely be used on the eastern section of Auel - Reuland. No improvements are planned on German territory (at Hemmeres). At the moment there is a partially signposted diversion. [May 2019]

preparation

Vennbahn closed at Raeren station
  • The good website of the Vennbahn should be called up to get information about construction work and other closures.
  • The altitude of the Vennbahn can already lead to considerable cold in the transition seasons and thus also to the icing of sections of the route. A look at the weather map beforehand is therefore more important than with most river cycle routes.

getting there

Map of Vennbahn

With public transport

  • To Aachen It is possible to travel by train (Hauptbahnhof or Rothe Erde station). Several depart from Aachen on weekends in the summer months Bicycle busse of the AVV. A high-speed route 66 goes in the morning directly to the Kalterherberg train station, from where you can comfortably cycle (downhill) back to Aachen.
  • From Cologne you can z. B. also travel to Jünkerath with the regional train and there on the Kylltal cycle path start to the west. In Weywertz you come across the Vennbahn.

By bicycle

  • see below connections

In the street

Given the abundance of options, a few tips:

  • The A 44 to Aachen-Brand, then on the lively Trierer Straße either to the Rothe Erde train station (parking spaces are usually chargeable) or in the opposite direction to Walheim.
  • The A 44 to Raeren on the Belgian border (exit Lichtenbusch). From the border parking lot it is approx. 3 km to Schmithof, which can be reached on the B 258. This place does not have a parking lot, but there are parking spaces next to the Vennbahn.
  • Leave the A1 from Cologne at exit 111-Wißkirchen and drive to Leykaul. The good infrastructure makes the place a good starting point.
  • The A 60 to Sankt-Vith. You can also use the Winterspelt exit and start in Steinebrück on line 46. After a few meters you are on the Vennbahn.

Parking spaces

  • The best place to park in Aachen is here: 1 Parking possibility
  • This is easily accessible on the B 258 in 2 Roetgen
  • Leykaul is very popular: 3 parking spot
  • not the first choice from D, but this parking lot is on the route: 4 Born

Route description with sights

Aachen main station - Monschau: approx. 48 km

First (?) Kilometer table

The mileage with large signs on tall masts begins in Aachen. In the big city you take part in the traffic and have to wait at some traffic lights and cross streets without traffic lights. The cycle path often runs alongside the route. Only after Raeren does the route increasingly follow the route.

  • Aachen central station - The Vennbahn has already been signposted and kilometers from Aachen Hbf since 2017. However, this connection to the main train station through the Aachen city center is rarely RAVeL quality. Sometimes you cycle in the middle of big city traffic. However, one cannot complain about a lack of variety. The range of restaurants is almost more extensive than on the remaining 125 km. As a sight is the Frankenberg Castle to call. A short piece of the section uses a former railway line that runs from Rothe Erde to Moltke station led.
Actual start - Aachen-Arkaden on the right, railway line on the left
  • About 200 m from the main station is on the right-hand side Aachen bike stationwhere bikes can be rented, bought or repaired.
  • Aachen-Rothe Erde - The actual Vennbahn (the historic railway line) begins on Rothe Erde station, right next to the “Aachen-Arkaden” shopping center. The starting point is also the lowest point of the route with approx. 170 m. Opposite there is a Bread from Yesterday branch of the Leo chain, where you can buy Belgian rice cakes, among other things, which are quite suitable as provisions for the tour (also good value for money). Trierer Straße is part of the B 258, which we will come across several times during the tour.
  • The former 1 Brand train station now offers a gastronomic offer.
  • Behind Aachen fire you cross the viaduct over the Rollefbach.
  • The Kornelimünster station now houses that
  • Kornelimünster
→ Connection to the D routes 4 (Mittelland route) and 7 (pilgrim route)
  • Between Kornelimünster and Walheim, it goes over the viaduct over the Iternbach, which is best seen when you briefly leave the route.
  • Walheim - with a disused train station and shops almost on the way (REWE and Penny). We cycle next to a railway track that belongs to the Stolberg - Walheim - Raeren - Eupen line and was restored in 2016. The cycle path is demarcated by a fence.
Water dispenser and bike path behind many tracks in Raeren
  • Schmithof - The main road is crossed twice in the village. The station was once the border station with Belgium, and it was the terminus for passenger trains.
  • Raeren (B) - 318 m high - the rather large train station is still there. There are a few old wagons and locomotives on the rusting tracks. The bike path runs next to the tracks. Then it's finally back on the railway line, which, however, has a gradient of 100 meters over a distance of about 10 km.
→ Detour Wasserburg: Part of the place is one 1 Moated castle from the 14th century, which houses a pottery museum.
  • Roetgen (D) - 419 m height - you cross the B 258 3 times. The federal road crosses the Belgian border a total of 6 times in this area. The place right at the entrance with Petergensfeld has a Belgian part, offers shopping and tourist information almost on the bike path.
No cycling on the footbridges in the Fens
→ Connection to the junction system with the option of Weser Reservoir to get. The first junction at the reservoir is the 46 (approx. 7 km). Junction 41 is at the dam, which is where you can go to Eupen can branch off. This point is about 50 m lower than Roetgen. Alternatively, you can return to the Vennbahn at Konzen or Mützenich and experience the Venn landscape. Most of the paths are paved.
  • Simmerath-Lammersdorf (D) - 554 m height - an approx. 4 km long section with a water-bound cover begins until it crosses again with the B 258 in
  • Monschau Concentrations - with the 2 Pankratius Chapel the large village has the oldest building in the region, the chapel is the remainder of a larger church from the 9th century. It is part of the cemetery and can be easily reached from the Vennbahn. The place is also a good starting point for a detour to the High Fens, as the paths here are quite flat.
A Burger King and a Kaufland branch, both south of the village, are also quite close to the bike route.
  • Monschau-Mützenich (D) - You don't see much of the city of Monschau, as the route above leads through the district of Mützenich. You cross it between Mützenich and Küchelscheid Reichenstein Viaduct. On the left you can see the still young Rur, which meanders in its valley and is bridged several times by the cycle path. Shortly after the viaduct there is a sometimes slippery footpath to the left into the valley, where you can reach the RurUfer cycle path reached. The path that slopes down from here offers an interesting opportunity to come to Monschau or to see the Reichenstein Monastery.

Monschau - Waimes: approx. 29 km (12)

This section is quieter and is characterized by the Venn landscape. The branches after are interesting Malmedy and after Losheim in Germany. A visit to the Bütgenbacher See (approx. 6 km from Weywertz) is included in this stage.

  • Kalterherberg (D) / Leykaul (B) - the former border crossing. Between Leykaul and Sourbrodt there is the option of using the old railway line Bicycle trolley to drive. Cyclists cycle here next to the route. There is a gastronomic offer at the start and end of the draisines. The former customs house ("Douanehof") now offers accommodation. The Rur, which accompanies the route as a young river on this section, is crossed three more times.
→ Here the Vennbahn crosses the RurUfer cycle path. If you cycle in the direction of Aachen, you can use the path on the Rur to visit the medieval city of Monschau. It goes steadily downhill and the Rur Valley is particularly beautiful here. The alternatives are much steeper (but only downhill) and not so nice.
The shelter for rail passengers in Faymonville is now used by cyclists
  • Sourbrodt (B) (German. Surbrot) - 564 m altitude - disused, large station with connection to the originally Imperial German, now Belgian military training area "Camp Elsenborn". 5.4 km from this station is the Signal de botrange, the highest mountain in Belgium at 694 m. The bike route also has the topographical highlight here.
→ approx. 5 km long junction (only for MTB!) To Ovifat (district of Waimes), where you can find the 3 Château de Reinhardstein can look at. The castle, which dates back to the 14th century and has since been destroyed, was rebuilt by Walloons in 1965/66. In addition to accommodation, the castle also houses a museum.[1]. Behind it, the highest waterfall in Belgium, at 60 meters, falls into the deep Warche Valley, which at this point can only be reached by hike.
→ Connection to the Ligne 45A after Losheim (German border) and Jünkerath (D) (former Vennquerbahn). This approx. 38 km long railway cycle path is nice to ride and has two reservoirs in the Belgian town Butgenbach and at the German Kronenburg and a particularly quiet natural landscape in Belgium. The route has been paved throughout since May 2017. From Losheim the route cycle path is also part of the Kylltal cycle path, of numerous other connections in the Eifel opens up and in trier ends.
  • Faymonville (B) - A shelter for the rail passengers is now used by the cyclists.
  • Waimes-Steinbach (B) - at the former train station is a large rest area with a display board
→ Connection to Ligne 45 (very good route) Malmedy and finally Trois-Ponts (railway station Liège-Luxembourg line). This route also takes you through the old town of Weismes (German name). In Stavelot, the Pre-RAVeL Ligne 44A branches off via Francorchamps (Formula 1 circuit) spa from. The latter has a moderate asphalt quality up to Hockai and a sustained incline, from there downhill and gravel, initially fine, later very coarse.

Waimes - Troisvierges: approx. 50 km

This section is now paved up to the entrance to the Ourtal. There is usually a water-bound blanket along Our and Ulf and the path is narrower. South of Lengeler it goes to the Luxembourgish ArdennesSeveral crisp gradients of up to 12% await the cyclist.

  • Ondenval (B) (dt. Niedersteinbach) - the place is on the right in the valley, which is easy to see.
  • Montenau - (B) - known from the Montenauer ham[2]. A cold store for ham is located next to the cycle path, which does not run along the route in the local area.
Emmelstal? south of Born
  • 4 Born (B) - here he impresses Freiherr von Korff Viaduct, a military bridge from the 1st World War, which belongs to the branching railway line Vielsalm – Born. The viaduct is crossed under and can therefore be admired in its entire length. Driving onto the viaduct is possible. Coin-operated binoculars offer wide views. To the south you can see the remains of a former locomotive turntable (branch off to the left!), Whereby other railway constructions or tracks are no longer recognizable.
  • Saint-Vith (B) - 480 m altitude - from now on we take line 47, which goes to pre-RAVeL (Preliminary stage for RAVeL with a possibly water-bound ceiling). Behind the city, however, the route is paved. The main building of the former train station, to the right of the cycle path, now serves as a museum.
  • Neidingen (B) - the route is hardly used. You cycle through the village. Then the former railway line, which runs on a dam, is crossed once before the cycle path is brought back onto the route via a ramp. The lively, meandering little river that now accompanies us is the Braunlauf.
This path leads back to Belgium via the Our. German and Belgian cycle signs next to each other.
  • Lommersweiler (B) - In front of the former stop there is a tunnel that is open all year round. The shorter of 2 tubes is used for the cycle path. The narrow tunnel can also be used by motor vehicles, so drive carefully. This is followed by a short stretch of line 46.
→ Connection to the Eifel-Ardennes cycle path (Line 46) Lead alf and Prüm. This connection is a straight continuation with a very good quality path on the route of the former w: Westeifelbahn. According to local signs, Bleialf was the terminus of the Vennbahn for a year. It is 2 km more to Prüm than to Troisvierges, and the route is paved throughout.
  • The Vennbahn branches off sharply to the right into the green and very quiet Ourtal. In this area, numerous railway bridges were blown up by the Wehrmacht in 1944, the Vennbahn was shut down and never used again, and it is only used here and there as a cycle path. From the south, however, trains ran to Reuland until 1964.
New place-name signs at the former train stations and display boards
  • Hemmeres (D) - A short visit to Germany. In front of the site, a section with a water-bound ceiling, then composite paving. You can see the bridge bearings of a destroyed Vennbahn bridge. Only in the middle of the village do we come across the route that comes from the left (not recognizable because it is overbuilt). The Our flows in loops that the Vennbahn cuts.
  • Owl (B) - the place is passed on the outskirts. Then a sandy stretch that has been mended with coarser gravel in washed-out areas. Nothing can be seen here of the former railway line. By the way, we leave the Ourtal, almost unnoticed, and content ourselves with a tributary called Ulf, whose valley is a bit prettier.
View of Reuland Castle
  • Reuland (B) - with a disused train station that was converted into a villa and one 5 Castle ruinsthat are best seen from the bike path. Unlike usual, this castle is by no means on a hill, but is part of the village and can be easily visited. This is because the Romans had already built a not-so-small fort at this point, which was used as a foundation by the new builders. A gastronomic offer awaits you in the castle courtyard. Behind the town, the railway line is clearly recognizable again and it goes slightly uphill, so that there are some beautiful views of the Ulftal. A section that was newly paved in 2019 begins.
  • Oudler (B) - Here we continue on asphalt.
  • Lengeler (B) - the place deep in the valley can be reached via a junction. Behind the village is the 790 m long unlit tunnel, which is to be reserved for bats all year round. However, the paved bike path leads to the tunnel on both sides. There is a long and a shorter bypass (with a 12% gradient). One bridge was renewed. The Lengeler Tunnel is no longer closed (as of May 20th, 2014). There is only one sign: "Enter at your own risk". If you are not afraid of the dark and risk getting your feet wet, you can hike through the tunnel with a flashlight and rubber boots. Cycling with touring bikes is not possible in the tunnel.

Behind the tunnel is Luxembourg, where the railway line is hardly used any more. The route is seldom flat (several steep ramps following one another), but at least it is paved throughout. The path is now also signposted as “Piste Cyclable du Nord 21”.

10% gradient at Wilwerdange - it will soon go up again
  • Goedange (Goedingen) (L) - an old village with a chapel with a bell to ring (shouldn't be done)
→ after the village, a farm road branches off to the right, which leads to RAVeL Ligne 163 leads to a railway cycle path Bastogne. There are plans to continue this RAVeL route to Sankt-Vith (then Bastogne - Sankt-Vith).
  • Wilwerdange - the former railway bridge was torn down and now you have to go down and up on two ramps.
  • Troisvierges (L) - translated the place name means "three virgins". His name is in German Ulflingen. The last few meters before Troisvierges train station have a gradient of 10%. The most important and perhaps even the largest structure in the village is the train station, which enables some interesting connections, especially towards Belgium. So you can z. B. drive to Trois-Point, where you can cycle again on a beautiful route (Ligne 45) in the direction of the Vennbahn.
→ Here, too, you can continue cycling to the west until you come to line 163. There are cycle signs in Belgium, but not in Luxembourg.

connections

  • Crossing in Aachen-Kornelimünster with the D routes 4 and 7.
  • Crossing in Aachen-Kornelimünster with the 3-country route
  • Crossing in Aachen-Kornelimünster with the German football route
  • Crossing in Aachen-Kornelimünster with the moated castle route (network)
  • Connection in Aachen-Kornelimünster to the Kaiser route
  • Connection in Aachen to the 2-country route (to Nijmegen [NL])
  • Connection in Aachen-Haaren Würselen, Alsdorf and Jülich
("Industriebahntrassenradweg", 25 km length, 5 km water-borne ceiling, the rest of the asphalt, 4 km to the Vennbahn)
  • Connection in Raeren to the Inter-RAVeL Kelmis
  • Connection in Weywertz to Ligne 45A to Jünkerath (D) with a partial parallel course of the Kylltal cycle path.
  • Connection in Born to Ligne 47A to Vielsalm. (planned)
  • Crossing in Kalterherberg with the RurUfer cycle path.
  • Connection in Kalterherberg to the Eifelhöhenroute
  • Connection in Waimes to Ligne 45 to Malmedy and finally Trois-Ponts.
  • Connection in Lommersweiler to the Eifel-Ardennes cycle path to Prüm
  • Connection in Steinebrück to Schönberg in the Ourtal
  • Connection in Goedange to Ligne 163 to Bastogne

Nodes

  • Junction 11, Roetgen
  • Junction 16, Lammersdorf
  • Junction 24, 25 conc
  • Junction 38, Leykaul, N50 31.274 E6 12.395
  • Junction 47, Petergensfeld
  • Junction 122, Steinbach
  • Junction 150, Sankt-Vith Nord
  • Junction 132, Sankt-Vith Ost

References to literature and maps

  • Gotthard Kirch, Hans-Jürgen Serwe: The Vennbahn. On the bike from Aachen to Luxembourg. Grenz-Echo Verlag Eupen, 2014, ISBN 978-3-86712-079-1 , P. 192.
  • Bikeline Vennbahn Cycle Path: From Aachen through the High Fens Nature Park to Luxembourg. Esterbauer, 2014, ISBN 978-3-85000-495-4 .
  • Bikeline rivers and railway lines Eifel: Ahr, Enz, Erft, Kalkeifel, Kyll, Maare-Mosel, Prüm, Urft, Vennbahn - 722 km. Esterbauer, 2016, ISBN 978-3850006828 .
  • Ziebold, Uwe; Ziebold, Christiane: By bike on the Vennbahn cycle path: the 12 most beautiful tours from Aachen to Luxembourg. J.P. Bachem, 2015, ISBN 978-3-7616-2734-1 , P. 192.

Web links

Individual evidence

  1. ↑http://www.reinhardstein.net/de
  2. ↑http://www.montenauer.com/de/startseite.htm Montenauer ham
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