The rich history of Groningen

You start this beautiful bike tour at the Breedenborg borg near the town of Breede. A borg was originally a fortified house, similar to a castle. A guarantor is mainly a Groningen phenomenon. Breedenborg was originally founded in 1587. In the nineteenth century the castle was demolished and replaced by the current one. You cycle into Baflo via the small town of Rasquert. The 2 places are separated by the water of the Rasquerdermaar. The name Maar is a Groningen name for water. They are generally shallow and irregular streams that have found their way through the landscape for centuries. There is a bridge and a high hollow over this but. That is a Groningen name for a high pedestrian bridge. After you have crossed the Maar we cycle past the village of Baflo. This village is built around the mound, an artificial elevation to provide protection against high water. This mound was constructed around 600 BC. The mound landscape is considered to be the oldest cultural landscape in the Netherlands. From Winsum to Onderdendam you follow the course of the Winsumerdiep canal. It runs from the Boterdiep near Onderdendam to the Reitdiep near Schaphalsterzijl. You may notice that the canal winds slightly. This is a result of the ebb and flow effects from the time when the Reitdiep was connected to the open sea. The small town of Kantens is located just above Middelstum. This village was built on and around the Kantsterwierde and is located on the Boterdiep. Striking remains from antiquity are the ox corridor and the road around the church. On the edge of the mound you will find the Grote Geert corn and peeling mill. Warffum is the largest mound in the Netherlands in terms of size. The village has a small open-air museum of which the houses are part of the village. The medieval reformed church is located on the mound of the village. During this cycle route you will encounter the following locations that are characteristic of Groningen and tell the history of Groningen: Rasquert Onze Lieve Vrouwenkerk Tinallinge Hunsingo Middelstum Asingaborg De Hoop Toomwerd Kanten Sint-Joris Kerk Stitswerd Rottum