Bike tour through the Ardennes

Welcome to the southernmost city in the Netherlands! After arriving at the hotel, grab your bike and explore the city. From the three bridges that span the Meuse, you have a wonderful view of the old city center. Pay a visit to the Basilica of St. Servatius, which is considered the oldest church in the country. Stroll across the Vrijthof and stop off at the atmospheric bars and restaurants around the square.

Use the time after breakfast for an extensive stroll through the city. Not far from the right bank of the Meuse is the Bonnefanten Museum, which will make the heart of any art lover beat faster. Before you get on your bike, you will receive a welcome cup of coffee or tea and Limburg fruit cake (included) at your hotel! Off you go! The first stage of your bike tour through the Ardennes today takes you to Liège in Belgium. Climb the 374 steps of the Montagne de Bueren staircase, which connects the city center with an old citadel. A magnificent view of the Meuse and the city will reward you for the steep climb.

Today you follow the Meuse in a south-westerly direction. The Grand Place in Huy is the perfect place for an extended break. Watch the hustle and bustle of the city with a good portion of moules-frites before heading to your overnight stay in Namur. As the capital of Wallonia, Namur can look back on more than a thousand years of history. The citadel on a 190-metre-high mountain spur and Saint-Aubain Cathedral are just a few of the interesting witnesses to past eras.

You cycle along the Meuse through the strawberry village of Wépion and the Gardens of Annevoie. Then treat yourself to a short stroll through the Ardennes town. According to the writer Victor Hugo, the town is the prettiest girl on the Meuse. See for yourself! Back on your bike, your route takes you to Hastière. Pay a visit to the impressive Fort of Charlemont at your destination for the day, Givet.

Today is all about the Parc naturel régional des Ardennes. The nature park is characterized by forests, meadows, moors, watercourses and rugged rocks – an ideal environment to combine relaxed cycling with lush green nature enjoyment without any major inclines. Speaking of enjoyment: climb the Roche à 7 Heures viewpoint above the small town of Monthermé and enjoy the view of the Meuse valley. Your overnight stop today is Charleville-Mézières.

A highlight of today's stage is the imposing castle in the middle of the French town of Sedan. The fortress is one of the largest in Europe. In Sedan, you say goodbye to the Meuse and cycle on to Bouillon in Belgium, your destination for today. Before you reach the town, you will have to pedal hard uphill. Your efforts will be rewarded with a descent to Bouillon. We recommend a visit to the medieval castle, which also dominates the townscape here.

After breakfast, you can expect a few climbs to Cugnon. At the Hotel Des Roches, you have the opportunity to take a breather with coffee and cake (included). Refreshed, you cycle uphill again on secluded paths. On the way, you cycle through characteristic little villages. In your overnight stay in Bastogne, many monuments commemorate the Ardennes offensive in the Second World War. The Mardasson Memorial, located just outside the town, is particularly recommended for history buffs.

On today's cycle stage, the Belgian-Luxembourg border is your constant companion. It goes up high. A short section through Luxembourg takes you to the highest point of the small Grand Duchy at Huldange. In Huldange you meet the Vennbahn cycle path. The former railroad line was converted into a long-distance cycle path not so long ago. Your overnight stay, the Belgian town of St. Vith, is geographically located at the interface between the Eifel and the Ardennes.

After breakfast, you cycle north today. Before you reach Montenau, it is worth taking a short detour to the village of Recht. Visit the local slate mine and museum. Another route highlight awaits you at the Montenau ham smokehouse. Here you can watch the production of the original Ardennes ham. Shortly before your overnight stay in Monschau, you leave the Vennbahn cycle path. Through the Rur valley, you reach the cozy Eifel town with its picture-perfect half-timbered houses and narrow alleyways. Try the Montjoier Dütchen, a sponge cake famous beyond the town's borders.

Today you return to the Vennbahn cycle path. Shortly before Aachen you reach Kornelimünster. Thanks to the historic town center from the Middle Ages, the village is considered the most picturesque district of Aachen. A few kilometers further on, you are already in the center of Germany's westernmost city, Aachen. The imposing Aachen Cathedral rises in the center of the old town and you should not miss out on visiting it. You leave Aachen and cycle to Kerkrade, just over the Dutch border. From here, take the train back to Maastricht.

Unfortunately, your bike tour through the Ardennes ends today. We are happy to extend your vacation in Maastricht with an extra night.