In beautiful sunshine we cycled to the two closest monuments.

First to Haus Arff, a maison des pleisances from the 1750. We have passed it quite often but had never been inside.

Until 2013 it was a private residence and is now an event location.

Then we cycled to Haus Orr. Until quite recently this had been in ruins. In a first preservation effort in 1986 the floor of the upper level was removed and a new roof installed. In 2010 it was renovated and now also is an event location.

#tag_des_offenen_denkmals

Another leg of the same track we took earlier this week.

NW 1.02a Viersen-Dülken – Schwalmtal-Waldniel – Brüggen

Glorious sunshine, the wind was still fairly cold. The track followed the river Schwalm. Green meadows, small towns. A pleasure.

Over the last two years we discovered the joy of converted railway lines. Yesterday we went from Kaldenkirchen to Kempen, one leg of the BahnRadweg Kreis Viersen, and back again. N1.02.

The weather was great, the route scenic, typical Niederrhein, and Kempen seems quite a nice town to visit post pandemic.

Nice cycling trip. We crossed the Rhine with the ferry at Langel and returned to our bank via the Leverkusen bridge. Nice views over the river.

At St Amandus on the way back we had some Tee from the thermos.

Great weather during the first halve of the trip. Now grey in grey, though warmer than at the start of the week.

We cycled to Schloss Hülchrath today. Nice tour, but after 4 days of glorious sun today it was overcast and cold. But we took hot tea, so everything was fine.

Another one done from the list

Photo not from today

Schloss Eicherhof

Crossed the Rhine with the ferry at Langel and then up to Leichlingen in the Bergischen Land. Couldn’t get close to the Schloss, closed due to covid.

After lunch in the sun we went back the way we came.

#cycling

Updated www.zahr.koeln/2020/12/2…

• 40 km cycling trip with my wife, got home just before the rain
• made 21 Rouladen with the daughter for Christmas
• sourdough in the fridge ready for baking tomorrow

#cycling

On our hunt for nice cycling tours we found a list on rheinland.info listing all the Schlösser ¹in the Rhineland ², there is even an IOS App, which shows the distance ³ from your current position.

As our e-bikes have increased our reach, the list of Schlösser provides easy inspiration.

Completed Tours 2020

• Schloss Frens, Quadrath-Ichendorf, 14 km
• Schloss Morsbroich, Leverkusen, 15 km
• Schloss Benrath, Düsseldorf, previously visited, 15 km
• Schloss Paffendorf, Bergheim, 16 km
• Schloss Loersfeld, Kerpen, 17 km
• Schloss Bedburg, Bedburg, 17 km
• Schloss Eicherhof, Leichlingen (Rheinland), 17 km

Completed Tours 2021

• Schloss Hülchrath, Hülchrath, 16 km
• Altes Schloss, Grevenbroich, 18 km
• Schloss Türnich, Türnich, previously visited, 19 km

Completed Tours 2022

• Schloss Laach, Monheim/Rhein, 10 km

Still to come

• Schloss Gymnich, Gymnich, previously visited, 21 km
• Schloss Strauweiler, Odenthal, 21 km
• Burg Bergerhausen, Bergerhausen, 22 km
• Schloss Augustusburg, Brühl, previously visited, 23 km
• Schloss Dyck, Jüchen, previously visited, 23 km
• Hotel Dycker Weinhaus, Jüchen, 23 km
• Hofgarten, Düsseldorf, previously visited, 23 km
• Schloss Jägerhof, Düsseldorf, 23 km
• Schloss Laach, Düsseldorf-Pempelfort, 24 km
• Schloss Gracht, Liblar, 24 km
• Schloss Falkenlust, Brühl, previously visited, 24 km
• Bezirksregierung, Düsseldorf, 24 km
• Schloss Bensberg, Bensberg, previously visited, 25 km
• Schloss Liedberg, Liedberg, 25 km
• Schloss Buschfeld, Bliesheim, 25 km
• Schloss Wahn, Wahn, 26 km
• Schloss Eulenbroich, Rösrath, 29 km
• Schloss Rösberg, Rösberg, 29 km
• Schloss Bornheim, Bornheim, 31 km
• Schloss Rankenberg, Dersdorf, 31 km
• Schloss Georgshausen, Hommerich, 32 km
• Schloss Auel, Wahlscheid, 34 km
• Schloss Alfter, Alfter, 34 km
• Schloss Ehreshoven, Engelskirchen, previously visited, 37 km
• Schloss Hardenberg, Velbert, 38 km
• Bonner Schloss, Bonn, previously visited, 38 km
• Schloss Heiligenhoven, Heiligenhoven, 38 km
• Schloss Poppelsdorf, Poppelsdorf, 38 km
• Poppelsdorfer Schloss, Bonn, 38 km
• Schloss Hückeswagen, Hückeswagen, 39 km
• Schloss Miel, Miel, 40 km
• Kommende Ramersdorf, Beuel, 41 km
• Wasserschloss Müttinghoven, Müttinghoven, 42 km
• Schloss Gimborn, Gimborn, 46 km
• Schloss Drachenburg, Königswinter, previously visited, 48 km
• Stiftung Naturschutzgeschichte, Königswinter, 48 km
• Schloss Merten, Merten, 50 km
• Schloss Homburg, Nümbrecht, previously visited, 52 km
• Burg Blankenheim, Blankenheim, previously visited, 66 km
• Wasserschloss Crottorf, Friesenhagen, 69 km
• Der Kappelenweg, Wissen, 70 km

I guess this will keep us busy. Also there are castles, abbeys, stately homes, mills, …

#cycling

Today we took the Zons ferry and cycled on to Schloss Benrath

Again, only 20 km from home.

#cycling

Another Schloss, again within 20 km from home.

Renessaince (Dutch style) architecture. Not open to the public.

#cycling

A cycling trip to Schloss (Museum) Morsbroich. Ca 20 km from home on the other side of the Rhine.

Thankfully the cycling path on the Leverkusener Brücke is still open. (The bridge is going to be replaced).

#cycling

#cycling

Saturdays tour started at Schloss Bedburg and followed the Erft up to Schloss Paffendorf and on to Bergheimerdorf.

Wonderful weather, unfortunately our Thermos broke before we had any hot drink.

#cycling

Very cool tour, map, 22 km one way. We went Wuppertal - Hattingen - Wuppertal.

There would have been some nice cafes in old railway stations, but due to Covid we took our own lunch.

Here is the other tunnel

#cycling

We drove East to the Rhine, then followed it downriver, skipping some of the bends. Worringen, Zons, … until we hit the mouth of the river Erft. Wie followed the Eft upwards, going West. We left the Erft in Allerheiligen and turned south towards Knechtsteden Abey, then Home via the Chorbusch.

Sunny day, though not warm. Just short of 60 km.

#cycling