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Leave behind the hectic everyday life in the city and come to the idyllic countryside!
Leave behind the hectic everyday life in the city and come to the idyllic countryside!
One of Europe’s longest disused railway lines awaits you just a stone’s throw away.
The Vennbahn leads you through the 3 countries of Germany, Belgium and Luxembourg in 6 stages on a route stretching over 125 kilometres. Embark upon a journey through fascinating natural landscapes and experience the cultural peculiarities of this border region. Whether solo, just the two of you or with the whole family, the Vennbahn is ideal for one-day tours or tours lasting several days.
The fastest way to the VennbahnThe first stage of the 125 km-long cycle trail starts 75 kilometres from Cologne. Therefore, getting to the starting point in Aachen by German Rail (Deutsche Bahn) or car is straightforward and doesn’t take much time at all.
The hustle and bustle of urban life and traffic around Rothe Erde railway station are quickly replaced by a peaceful suburban idyll. The former abbey town of Kornelimünster re-awaits you with its mediaeval setting. Old diesel locomotives can still be marvelled at at the railway station in Walheim. The route takes you through a landscape of woodland and meadows across the border to East Belgium and comes to an end at the old station in Raeren.
Read moreVisitors can delight in the old diesel locomotives on the still existing parts of the track network at the former railway station in Raeren. Then the route takes you through the forest on the German-Belgium border towards Roetgen, the “Gateway to the Eifel”. Now, a veritable alternating of the boundary lines will begin. The Vennbahn crosses German and Belgian territory several times during this stage of the trip. The woodland scenery slowly becomes less prominent towards Lammersdorf and Konzen, and many a person is put in mind of Switzerland. With these impressions, you reach the former cloth-making town of Monschau with its magnificently preserved half-timbered houses.
Read moreBy car, train or bus, there are many ways to get to the Vennbahn.
A train ride from Cologne to Aachen normally takes around 1 hour. From here you can get to the Vennbahn quite easily.
Check out the Deutsche Bahn website for up-to-date timetables.
The return train journey from Aachen to Cologne is just as unproblematic as the outward one. However, there are only limited possibilities for travelling back from any point along the Vennbahn. There is one possibility at the southern end of the Vennbahn via the connection Troisvierges (L) – Lüttich Guillemins (B) – Welkenraedt (B) – Aachen. The other option would be to take the railway cycle path (RAVeL L45a) to the Kyll cycle path half way along the route and then catch a train back at Jünkerath railway station.
Click here for more specific information.
Advice: bikes may be carried on all train (except Thalys and ICE). Please avoid rush hours. You can only take your bike on and off the train at places advised by the guard and under their supervision! Click here for more specific information.
Advice: There are cycle-train combinations on offer in Luxemburg that will carry your bike free of charge.
A bus runs between Kalterherberg and Aachen on Sundays and public holidays between April and October.
Reservations can be made by phoning +49 241 91 28 90 until Friday noon before planned day of travel.
Further details can be found here: www.avv.de
Various private taxi companies in the region offer a return shuttle service to the starting point of the route as an alternative to the train, and, in particular for groups.
Taxi FEYEN
Alter Römerweg 12
B-4770 Amel
T +32 80 34 93 02 • +32 80 34 90 87
www.taxi-feyen.com
info@taxi-feyen.com
Venn-Shuttle
Unterer Stehling 10a
D-52156 Monschau
T +49 2472 802 81 75
M +49 176 969 876 93
www.vr-venntouristik.de
vr-venntouristik@t-online.de
Siepen Radreisen
Schillingstr. 48
D-52355 Düren
T +49 2421 8897 50
www.siepen-reisen.de/vennbahnradweg
kontakt@siepen-reisen.de
Trierer Straße 1, 52064 Aachen
Further details can be found here.
Lagerhausstraße 20, 52064 Aachen
Further details can be found here.
Importand note: Aachen has an “Environmental Zone”!
| Eupen Bahnhofsgasse 3, 4700 Eupen, Belgien |
Born N659 36, 4770 Amel, Belgien |
| Raeren Vennbahn, 4730 Raeren, Belgien |
St.Vith Vennbahnweg, 4780 St. Vith, Belgien |
| Monschau Gut Reichenstein 1, 52156 Monschau, Deutschland |
Burg-Reuland N693 131, 4790 Burg-Reuland, Belgien |
| Sourbrodt Rue du Camp 2, 4950 Sourbrodt, Belgien |
Oudler Oudler 86, 4791 Burg-Reuland, Belgien |
| Waimes Rue du Ctre 13, 4950 Waimes, Belgien |
Lengeler N62 11, 4790 Burg-Reuland, Belgien |
| Montenau Am Bahnhof 29a, 4770 Amel, Belgien |
Troisvierges 9 Rue de Biwisch, 9907 Troisvierges, Luxemburg |
For further information please contact us or one of the tourist information offices below.
For more than a century, the Vennbahn was the iron link between Aachen and the north of Luxembourg. An eventful period in the truest sense of the word which gave rise to a great deal of history and stories. There are a total of 20 locations around the Vennbahn where you can search for traces of the peculiarities of the countryside and people of the region. The stories are visually underpinned by comics typical of Belgium. Have fun on your discovery tour!