From Valkenburg to Gulpen and back through nature

The mountains begin in South Limburg! You will make a sporty tour where you will visit not only Valkenburg but also Gulpen, Epe, Slenaken and Gulpen. This authentic region gives many Dutch people the feeling that they are on holiday abroad within the country's borders. Be amazed by the rich history and nature lease of the Geul and Gulp valleys. The reward of a climb to a hilltop is worth it, because you are rewarded with beautiful views over a green landscape, while driving down requires no more effort than squeezing your brakes. After a few kilometers you will reach Gulpen, after which you can see the Neuburgermolen and the idyllically situated Neuburg castle (whose history goes back to at least the fourteenth century) from the road. Both buildings are national monuments. A little later you will drive past Groenendael castle. Originally this was a fortified and moated house, so it had no knightly status. Only the foundations of the original building from 1775 remain, because the building was demolished in 1921. Some of the remains of the old building have been incorporated into the masonry of the new house. You continue the route to Slenaken and Epe, where you will encounter a few steep slopes and the associated panoramic views. Via the Geuldal you drive to Wittem and with a detour back to Valkenburg. Just before you enter the town, you will pass the Schaloensmolen. This water corn mill was built in 1701. At the end of the fifties the mill was shut down. After years of inactivity, a group of volunteers restored the mill, without restoring its grinding function. A native garden was created at the mill, which is still open to visitors today: Kasteeltuin Oud Valkenburg. A little further on is also Schaloen Castle, which originally dates from the 14th century. The different types of marl from which this building is constructed teach us that the building has undergone several reconstructions and renovations. In 1894, the castle received its (for the time being?) last makeover in neo-Gothic style. Finally, you enter Valkenburg, the city that has a rich cycling history with five World Cups and two arrival places in the Tour de France. But history has also left other traces, such as the ruins of Valkenburg Castle. The ruins are located on the Heunsberg and are one of the few remaining hilltop castles in the Netherlands. The castle, which was built around 1115, was destroyed three times. The last time that went wrong was during the Eighty Years' War. After the fortress was recaptured from the French troops with great difficulty, it was decided to blow up the castle for strategic reasons. Only the city walls, two of the six city gates and part of the round tower remained. Rubble and boulders from the castle ruins were used to rebuild the town of Valkenburg. The last bit back you go up against the Cauberg, the hill that still plays such a historical role in cycling and has been the finish of the Amstel Gold Race for more than 10 years. Can you handle it?