Castles and water mill route in the Netherlands and Belgium

This cross-border cycling tour takes you to the Schweibergerbos, among other things. It is a vast forest area near the municipality of Gulpen in Limburg. The sea of trees grows on the western edge of the Geul valley and on the eastern edge of the Crapoel Plateau. It is therefore partly a hillside forest. The forest is surrounded by other forests and there is therefore a large ecological transition zone here. Hidden by the mysterious trees, in the Schweibergerbos you will find a war memorial that was erected in memory of fallen British air force soldiers from a bomber of the Royal Air Force, and the Bissen gravel farm. From Auberge De Smockelaer, where you can park your car for free, you cycle to the Commanderie, which you will find after 8.5 kilometers. It is a beautiful castle in the Maasland Renaissance style and a former commandery of the Teutonic Order. The property was donated in 1242 by Daniel van Voeren. The castle was the commandery of Alden Bielden, where the commander stayed. The complex consists of a main building, a farm, stables and a gatehouse. The oldest part of the fortress is the L-shaped wing, topped by a tower. A number of ponds were added to the original moats around the castle in 1885. Trout, sturgeon and eel were, and still are, bred here. The next stop is at the Wingberger Mill. This water mill from 1844 has long served as a flour mill with a turbine, but in 2013 it has been out of operation for some time. There are no plans to make the mill operational again. There is a restaurant located in the mill, which ensures that the mill does not fall into disrepair despite standing still. If you want to view the inside of the mill, you can make an appointment. The two beautiful water mills are another highlight of the tour. In Mechelen you will find the Onderste Molen and the Bovenste Molen. The original Onderste Molen was built in 1215 and was then called the commander's mill. Later, after a restoration, the mill was renamed the'Lower Mill\\\'. This mill was originally used as a flour mill, but later it was also used to generate electricity. The Upper Mill, which you can see seven hundred meters upstream, is a medium-sized watermill. A ban mill was already built here in the thirteenth century, but in 1828 that mill was rebuilt as a paper mill. In 1856 an artificial wool mill was made from the former paper mill, but this company went bankrupt in 1882. The mill was completely restored in 1978 with a major restoration and got its old grinding function back. In 2013, organic wheat is milled with it and the mill is equipped in such a way that it can also process other grain products. Finally, you arrive at the Schoutenhof estate. So high up in the rolling landscape you have a beautiful view over the hills and the forests that connect directly to the park of the estate. The estate is a fun place full of sporting activities that you can participate in. Golf, horse riding and fishing are among the possibilities. Back at Auberge de Smockelaer, the cafe-restaurant looks very inviting. A delicious dinner and a nice drink on the terrace naturally feel like a treat after the bike ride, but how about a cycling weekend away? Book one of the atmospheric (group) accommodations or a holiday home for that real holiday feeling. The next day you can get on your bike rested and spry to also make route 164685.