From Epen along some water mills

The Vijlenerbos is an approximately 650 hectare forest area that was already inhabited in prehistoric times. The extensive slope forests between Vijlen and Vaals are characterized by very large height differences of up to approximately 100 meters. The highest point is the famous three-country point. Cycle through the impressive karst landscape in which limestone dissolved in water and where you will find gigantic craters filled with flint eluvium and tertiary sand. These funnel-shaped landscape elements are called organ pipes. These organ pipes and so-called shot-shaped"bowls\\\" with a diameter of several tens of meters, which are called'dolines\\\', were created when limestone dissolved in water, a process called karst. In addition, beautiful sandstone boulders bonded together with silica can be found in the beautiful Limburg Vijlenerbosch. Close to Hotel Eperland, which is the base for a wonderful cycling weekend (route 140570 also starts and ends here), you will find the Schoutenhof estate. On and around the estate you will see cute half-timbered houses and atmospheric farmyards. At the Schoutenhof estate you can undertake all kinds of sporting activities, such as fishing, golfing or horse riding. The beautiful view over the Geul Valley provides a wonderfully relaxed and tidy feeling. Then the first watermill presents itself. A ban mill was built on this site in the thirteenth century, but in 1828 the mill was rebuilt as a paper mill. The former paper mill was turned into an artificial wool mill in 1856, but this company went bankrupt in 1882. The medium-speed water mill, called the Bovenste Molen, was completely restored in 1978 with a major restoration and regained its old grinding function. In 2013, organic wheat is milled with it and the mill is designed in such a way that it can also process other grain products. The Onderste Molen in Mechelen is located seven hundred meters downstream. This beautiful watermill was used as a flour mill, but it also generated 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. You continue the cycle tour to Vaals, where you can view the Frankenmolen. This overcast water mill from 1736 was used as a spinning head for years, until the associated factory burned down three times in fifteen years. In 1905, the blanket factory was closed and the mill was converted into a flour mill, a function it has fulfilled for years and still does. Then it is time for a visit to the estate where an impressive building called Vaelsbroek and the Vaalsbroekermolen are located. The current"castle\\\" Vaelsbroek, a beautiful U-shaped mansion, was built in 1761 by the cloth manufacturer Johann Arnold von Clermont from Aachen, who moved his factories to Vaals. A modern castle in classicist style was built on the estate and a beautiful park was built around the house, on which a mausoleum was built for family members of the owner. The Vaalsbroekermolen is a beautiful watermill that was built in Vaals in 1776. The mill was used as a spinning and grist mill until about 1960, after which the mill fell into serious disrepair. Until 1988, the mill was hardly maintained, but when a hotel was built next to it, the mill was completely restored. The mill is operational again and looks beautiful, but it was never able to regain its old function. There is a restaurant in the building, where you can enjoy a bite to eat. The Vaalsbroekermolen is part of the Vaelsbroek castle. Then you cross the border to cycle a short distance through Belgian territory. This way you return to Hotel Eperland. In the hotel restaurant you can end the day with a delicious three-course dinner and a drink. If you really want to enjoy a relaxing weekend in Limburg, book an overnight stay so that you can explore route 140570 the next day, rested.