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We embark on a circular route along the Lower Rhine. The route leads through forest and meadow landscapes with lakes passing by numerous mills.
moderate
Distance 27.3 km
1:40 h
37 m
38 m
67 m
36 m
Nowhere else in the Viersen district will you come across as many mills as on this route. Water mills have existed on the Lower Rhine since at least the 13th century. Most were compulsory mills, meaning farmers belonging to the respective lordship were obliged to have their grain milled here for a fee due to the lordship's milling monopoly. The Schwalm once powered 25 mills along its 32 km course from the source to its mouth in the Maas near Swalmen. Its tributaries powered 15 mills. Due to the lack of a slope, the undershot water wheel type was usually used, where the water hits the wheel from below. The mills ground grain, oilseed (rapeseed, flax), bark (for tanning), or rags (fabric residues) for papermaking, fulling hides and fabrics, and powered sawmills. Some Schwalm mills had two to three water wheels. The heyday of the mills ended after World War I. Some of the remaining mills today serve as restaurants or hotels.
Difficulty
moderate
Overall difficulty
moderate
Derived from the technical difficulty and the stamina requirements.
Experience
Landscape
Highest point
67 m
Lowest point
36 m
Best time of year
Jan
Feb
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Show elevation profileRoadbook
Our starting point is the marketplace in Schwalmtal-Waldniel. From here, we cycle a bit southeast. Shortly after, we turn right and pass Haus Klee. We then keep going straight, leaving the last houses of the town behind and cycle along a meadow path that leads us over the A52 and into a forest. At a farmstead, the path turns right, which we continue to follow. In Lüttelforst, at the T-junction, we keep right and then continue straight along the path. At the junction at Lousberg, we turn left, cross the Schwalm, and immediately turn right again. Between the swimming pool and the sports grounds of Niederkrüchten, we continue left. At the junction, we turn right into Mittelstraße, follow it over the A52, and then turn right towards Brempt. We pass through the village and the Hariksee lake, cycle a bit through the forest, and turn left when we see fields ahead. We pass the Mühlrather Mill and the homestead of the same name and continue first northeast, then north towards Borner Lake. Here we decide on a detour to the left via Borner Mill and into the old town of Brüggen before returning to the lake. From Born, we head east towards Pferdeweiher, turn right before it, and go through Sankt Anton, Geneschen, Linde, and Schier until we reach Waldniel and our starting point again.
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Nearby
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Waypoint
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Forecast
Today {low} to {high} and {precipitation} of {precipitation_type}
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Photo
Video
Oberer Hariksee MarinaBorner See
Wasserblickpunkt Borner See
Wasserblickpunkt Hariksee & Inselschlösschen
Burgis verwunschener Wald
Naturdenkmal Rosskastanie
Naturdenkmal Eiche
Rotbuche am Kreuzherrenplatz
Ahornbaum am Messerturm
Mispelbaum an der Borner Kirche
Rotbuche an der Villa Helmich
Blutbuche vor dem Pfarrheim Born
Public transport
By train to Mönchengladbach, then by bus to Schwalmtal-WaldnielGet Timetable to destination
Mill route
Directions
A52 exit 4/SchwalmtalParking
Marketplace Schwalmtal-WaldnielCoordinates
DD
51.212704, 6.273794
DMS
51°12'45.7"N 6°16'25.7"E
UTM
32U 309594 5677011
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Localization
Parts of this content were machine translated from German.
Difficulty
moderate
Overall difficulty
moderate
Derived from the technical difficulty and the stamina requirements.
Distance
27.3 km
Duration
1:40 h
Ascent
37 m
Descent
38 m
Highest point
67 m
Lowest point
36 m
Weather at the starting point
Statistics
Maps and trails
Nothing selected - click and drag in the elevation profile to zoom
Distance
Duration
Ascent
Descent

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