Tour of Maastricht across the border

The first part of this cycle route takes you through De Dellen. In this beautifully rolling landscape you cycle under the canopy of summer oaks, beeches and maples. The area around the South Limburg village of Geulhem is beautiful. In the Geulhemmerberg there are several former marl quarries in which cave dwellings have been built. You cycle further towards Ingendael: a wonderfully quiet nature reserve with flowery grasslands through which the Geul meanders. Here you pass the castle of Sint Gerlach, which was built in the twelfth century as a monastery. It was not until the nineteenth century that the monastery was converted into a castle. You continue via Valkenburg and Heerlen. From the German Herzogenrath you return via Schin op Geul and Bemelen, for yet another completely different view of the south.