Files, Slenaken and Gulpen

The Schweibergerbos is a vast forest area near the municipality of Gulpen in Limburg. The sea of trees grows on the western edge of the Geul valley and on the eastern edge of the Crapoel Plateau. It is therefore partly a hillside forest. The forest is surrounded by other forests and there is therefore a large ecological transition zone here. Hidden by the mysterious trees, in the Schweibergerbos you will find a war memorial that was erected in memory of fallen British Air Force soldiers from a bomber of the Royal Air Force. It is an impressive monument in the form of a cross with a corpus and a plaque. The route starts at the hospitable Hotel Vijlerhof. Here you can park your car for free in the parking lot and a hospitable welcome awaits you. Atmosphere and conviviality characterize this beautiful hotel with a restaurant where you can have a delicious lunch before you start the bike ride and set course for the Wingberger Mill. This water mill in Epen dates from 1844. The mill has long served as a flour mill with a turbine, but has been out of operation for some time. Fortunately, in the case of this mill, standing still does not mean a decline, because the restaurant located in the building ensures that the water mill is well maintained. Anyone who would like to view the inside of the Wingberger mill can make an appointment. Less than a kilometer away you will see the Schoutenhof estate. Here you have a beautiful view over the hills and forests that connect directly to the private park. You can stay on the estate and participate in all kinds of sporting activities, such as golf, horseback riding or fishing. You find your way through the hilly landscape and then arrive at Groenendael Castle. This beautiful castle was mainly used for agricultural purposes. Only foundations of the original building from 1775 remain, because the building was demolished in 1921. Originally it was not really a castle but more of a fortified, moated house. It therefore had no knight status. Part of the wall remains of the old building have been incorporated into the masonry of the new house. The Groenendaalsmolen is a beautiful watermill that is also called Groenendalsmolen. The mill, which grinds on the water of the Gulp near Euverem, originally belonged to Kasteel Groenendaal. The exact year of construction is unknown, but what we do know is that the water mill was used to grind corn. In 1871 the mill and accompanying house had become so dilapidated that they were demolished and rebuilt. A lurid fact is that in 1939 an eighteen-year-old maid was caught by a rotating shaft. His injuries were so severe that he died. In 1951 a fire broke out in the mill, which was then repaired and rebuilt again. The mill was completely converted into a house in 1966 and thus lost its function as a corn mill. Because the mill is privately inhabited, it cannot be visited. The Neubourger Mill, also known as the Mill of Roex, is located on the river Gulp, on the edge of the town of Gulpen. It is a medium-stroke water mill that was installed in 1712 to grind paper. Until 1840, with the exception of the period 1809-1816, the mill ground clothing into pulp, from which paper was scooped manually. In 1853 it was decided to convert the mill into a grain mill, where in 1907 a turbine with iron gear was placed. Further modernization was carried out in 1930, when an electric motor was installed in the mill. A restaurant annex pancake house is located in the current national monument. The Onderste Molen is also a beautiful water mill that was used as a flour mill, but also to generate electricity. The original mill was built in 1215 and was then called the commander's mill. Later, after a restoration, the mill was renamed the'Lower Mill\\\'. The mill was made fully operational in 2005 and now runs on a voluntary basis. When you return to the hotel, it is a pleasure to take a seat on the beautiful garden terrace. This way you can enjoy the last rays of the sun in peace, while you can enjoy a delicious dinner and the beautiful surroundings. If you book a hotel room, you can retire and take an invigorating shower before enjoying a drink in the bar. An overnight stay also has the advantage that you can also explore 123250 the next day, which also leads from the hotel through the nature of Limburg.