From Valkenburg to Gulpen and back through nature

The mountains start in South Limburg! You will make a sporty tour where, in addition to Valkenburg, you will also visit 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 natural beauty of the Geul and Gulp valley. The reward of a climb to a hilltop is worth it, as 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 reach Gulpen, after which you can see the Neuburger mill and the idyllically situated Neuburg castle (whose history dates back to at least the fourteenth century) from the road. Both buildings are national monuments. A little later you drive past Groenendael Castle. Originally this was a fortified and moated house, so it did not have knighthood 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 walls of the new house. You continue the route to Slenaken and Epe, where some tough slopes and the associated panoramic views await you. Via the Geuldal you drive to Wittem and take a detour back to Valkenburg. Just before you enter the town, you pass the Schaloensmolen. This water grist mill was built in 1701. The mill was closed down at the end of the 1950s. After years of inactivity, a group of volunteers renovated the mill again, without restoring the grinding function. A native garden was created near the mill, which is still open to visitors today: Kasteeltuin Oud Valkenburg. A little further away is Schaloen Castle, which originally dates from the 14th century. The different types of marl from which this building is constructed show us that the building has undergone various reconstructions and renovations. In 1894 the castle received its (temporary?) final makeover in neo-Gothic style. Finally you enter Valkenburg, the city that has a rich cycling history with five World Cups and two finishes in the Tour de France. But history has also left other traces, such as the ruins of Valkenburg Castle. The ruin is located on the Heunsberg and is one of the few remaining high castles in the Netherlands. The castle, which was built around 1115, was destroyed three times. The last time things went wrong was during the Eighty Years' War. After the fortress had been 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 part back you go up the Cauberg, the hill that still plays such a historic role in cycling and has been the finishing place of the Amstel Gold Race for more than 10 years. Can you handle him?