Discover the beauty of Central Limburg

Not many cyclists know that Central Limburg is ideal for wonderful cycling trips. You will discover beautiful villages, the charm of the gently sloping Roer Valley and quiet cycle paths.

Herons pants
From Heel you cross the Maas. In Maasbracht you will see the Leonardusmolen, a flour mill from 1864. Just outside the village you will pass the Reigersbroek, an old swamp and peat area. There is a lookout tower that you can walk to for a beautiful panorama of the area. Tip: bring your binoculars! Just past Montfort you drive through the coniferous forests of't Sweeltje. A real Roman treasure was discovered here by an amateur archaeologist in 2009.

Limburg country houses
You will also find old country estates in Limburg. Such as around the historic Heel, one of the oldest church villages in Limburg. Here you see Huis Nederhoven, a moated hunting lodge from 1614 that is located on the Sleijbeek. The current Heel Castle dates from the eighteenth century. St. Stephen's Church is also beautiful: the tower dates back to the eleventh century! A little further on, you can enjoy a well-deserved drink on the terrace at Lenny\\\'s ice cream and coffee shop.

Montfort Castle
Just outside Montfort you will pass the impressive ruins of Montfort Castle, an originally thirteenth-century castle that was built by order of Henry III of Gelre. For centuries this was one of the largest castles in the Netherlands. Due to its location on a ridge in the watery Vlootbeek valley, the polygonal floor plan and the thick natural stone walls, the castle was practically impregnable. In the seventeenth century the castle lost its military function and fell into disrepair. In 1850, a Roermond paper manufacturer had a country residence built on the site of one of the former defense towers. This so-called hunting lodge was restored in 2005-2006 and now houses an information center. From Lenny's ice cream and coffee shop you can also explore this beautiful cycling region with route 537858.