The starting point in this route description is Wassenberg (Naturparktor, Pontorsonallee 16, 41849 Wassenberg).
From the Wassenberg information point, cycle downhill to the corner Pontorsonalle / Parkstrasse, turn right and first head to junction (KP) 21 at the Roßtor and then towards KP 22, but at the intermediate sign about 100 metres before the junction turn right towards KP 23. The KP 13 in Karken directs you to KP 39 and KP 35 in Waldfeucht-Haaren. Cycling towards KP 33, you reach the Waldfeucht information point (Alter Klauser Kirchweg 18, swimming pool, 52525 Waldfeucht-Haaren). Continue towards KP 33, but at the T-junction of "Hüttenweg" and "Obspringer Strasse" turn right and at the next T-junction turn left into "Haarener Strasse". After a few metres turn right into "Erksweg", follow this path and cycle straight into the Netherlands. The "Waldfeuchterweg" leads you to a larger street called "Echterboschlaan". Here turn right and after about 300 metres cycle straight on (caution: this spot is somewhat confusing) to the Dutch KP 68. Continue via KP 69 towards KP 74 and KP 12 to St. Odilienberg.
At Paarlo stands KP 73, which refers you to KP 72 in Vlodrop. Then continue to KP 71 and then - crossing the German-Dutch border - to KP 25 at Martinusplatz in Effeld. Shortly before the junction you reach the Wassenberg-Effeld information point (Dorfzentrum Mittendrin, Kreuzstrasse 26). Via KPs 24 and 28 you reach KP 21 in Wassenberg. Here, cycling towards KP 29, you reach the corner Parkstrasse / Pontorsonallee, turn left and return to the starting point of your route.
Sights along the route:
From the information point in Wassenberg cycle towards KP 21 and then to KP 22 near Orsbeck, but at the intermediate sign about 100 metres before the junction turn right towards KP 23. In the marshy meadows of the Rur, the so-called "Emperor's Battle" took place in the 13th century, in which the armies of two contenders for the German imperial throne clashed.
Along the Rur you cycle to KP 23, where you cross the river. KP 13 is in Karken and guides you to KP 39 in Waldfeucht. Via KP 35 and further towards KP 33 you reach the Waldfeucht-Haaren information point (Alter Klauser Kirchweg 18 / at the swimming pool, 52525 Waldfeucht-Haaren).
On the way to KP 35 you can see the preserved copper kettles of the former brewery on Brauereistrasse. Beer was brewed here from 1934 to 1977 and distributed in the region. Today the buildings are used for ice cream production.
From the Waldfeucht information point, continue towards KP 33, but at the intermediate sign at the T-junction of "Hüttenweg" and "Obspringer Strasse" turn right and at the next T-junction turn left into "Haarener Strasse". After a few metres turn right into "Erksweg", follow this path and cycle straight into the Netherlands. The "Waldfeuchterweg" leads you to a larger street called "Echterboschlaan". Here turn right and after about 300 metres cycle straight on (caution: this spot is somewhat confusing) to the Dutch KP 68. Continue via KP 69 towards KP 74 and KP 12 to St. Odilienberg.
In this town, a visit to the Sint-Petrusberg – Basilica and Chapel might be interesting. The Sint-Petrusberg hill rises here. On it are two Roman Catholic churches - the basilica dedicated to Saints Wiro, Plechelm, and Otger and nearby the Onze Lieve Vrouwekapel chapel. The chapel was originally used as a parish church, the basilica initially as the church of a monastery founded in the 8th century by the Anglo-Saxon missionaries Wiro, Plechelm, and Otger and, according to tradition, endowed by Pippin the Middle. Archaeological investigations have proven a masonry hall church from the 9th century at the site of today's basilica, to which a choir was added in the 10th century. The nave of today’s basilica originates from the 11th century, the transept was built in the 12th century, and the choir with its two towers was constructed around 1200.
Towards the end of World War II, German troops blew up the two choir towers, causing major damage to the choir and the transept. The buildings were restored between 1949 and 1951, but the 1992 Roermond earthquake caused further damage that was repaired by 1994.
The small but very interesting Roerstreekmuseum at the foot of the hill offers a permanent exhibition on the history of the region. It shows interesting facts about geology and finds from the Stone Age to the 20th century. Additionally, temporary exhibitions on individual topics are regularly held. www.roerstreekmuseum.nl
At Paarlo is KP 73, which refers you to KPs 72 and 71 in Vlodrop. KP 25 is once again in Germany in the centre of Effeld. Shortly before the junction, you reach the Wassenberg-Effeld information point (Dorfzentrum Mittendrin, Kreuzstrasse 26). In this region, the border was redrawn just over 200 years ago at the Congress of Vienna - from above, without regard to the fact that a uniform cultural and linguistic area existed here. The criterion was that the borderline should be at least a cannon shot away from the Maas.
In 1814 and 1815, after Napoleon I's defeat, representatives of more than 200 European states gathered in Vienna to reorganise the political map of Europe. At Britain's insistence, Prussia did not receive the desired territories in the east of its kingdom but the provinces of Jülich-Cleves-Berg, the Grand Duchy of the Lower Rhine, and Westphalia. The inhabitants of this region were not very enthusiastic: The previously unrestricted exchange between the people of the region and trade were hindered by the new border. Also, the Prussians were Protestant and sent their officials to the Catholic Lower Rhine - new times began. One result of this mentality conflict was, among other things, the impact on carnival: The so-called carnival guards are caricatures of the Prussian military.
Through fields you cycle via KP 24 to KP 28 and further to KP 21 at Wassenberg's Roßtorplatz.
Take some time to stroll through the town centre with the preserved remnants of the medieval city walls or visit the Kunstgasse.
You reach your starting point by cycling towards KP 29 to the corner of Parkstrasse / Pontorsonallee and then turning left to the Nature Park Gate.
