:terra nova Speedway-Rundkurs

The active opencast mining region between Cologne and Aachen is unique in character for Central and Western Europe. Here, the dimensions and perspectives far beyond the time of lignite are impressively visible. Where an incredible amount of earth and stones used to be transported through the landscape, the former route between the former mining Bergheim and the largest opencast mining in Europe in Hambach invites you to cycle, rollerblade or simply take a detour without danger. The five-meter-wide, asphalted bicycle and leisure path'Speedway :terra nova\\\' runs straight like a candle and without crossings with more than 14 kilometers through a green biosphere and ends at the Forum :terra nova, a view - and visitors' forum with associated gastronomy. From here you can watch the gigantic paddle wheel excavators as they work at the Hambach opencast mining. Via low-traffic and low-slope secondary roads it continues between meadows, fields and the floodplains of the Erft to the starting point.