Waldfeucht circular route: by streams, through fields and forests

From the starting point, the Brüggelchen leisure center (Vogteistraße/Tilder Weg, 52525 Waldfeucht), ride about 2 km northeast, passing the Motte Bolleberg towards junction 33 (● KP 33) until you reach it. From there, let the further junctions guide you. You now follow the Kitschbach creek to Haaren to ● KP 35 and ● KP 39. Across open fields by the Haarener windmill, you reach ● KP 50 in Obspringen and continue to ● KP 49 in Braunsrath. Small villages like Hontem and Bocket and open fields accompany you on the way to ● KP 48. With the Waldfeucht windmill in view, you arrive at Waldfeucht. In the middle of the town center is ● KP 31. From there, ● KP 33 points roughly 1 km back toward the starting point.

Start at Brüggelchen Leisure Center - towards ● KP 33 - ● KP 35 - KP 39 - ● KP 50 - ● KP 49 - ● KP 48 - ● KP 31 - towards ● KP 33 back to the goal at Brüggelchen Leisure Center

The starting point, the Brüggelchen Leisure Center, is about two kilometers from the nearest junction 33 (● KP 33). You cycle northeast past the Motte Bolleberg, a fortification from the 9th century. The term “motte” is a variation of the French term “Château à la Motte,” meaning earth mound castle. Mottes consisted of a mound and an outer bailey. They were protected by palisades and often surrounded by moats. On the mound stood a residential tower, while huts and stables were located in the bailey. Mottes served as knightly residences and refuges in times of war.

You pass through the village of Brüggelchen and continue past sports facilities over a country road to a T-junction. Turn right here to reach the previously mentioned junction ● KP 33. From here the junctions show you the way, and you cycle through the wet meadows of the renatured Kitschbach and through Haaren to ● KP 35. Before heading to ● KP 39, a detour to St.-Jans-Klus is recommended (about 500 m ‘Kluserweg’, direction ● KP 14). Documented as a pilgrimage site since 1328, today it is a four-winged brick farm with a restaurant and a small wayside chapel at one corner of the farm. There is also the Forest Fairy Tale Trail — an exciting journey into nature, not only for children.

Back on route, opposite Haaren Church on “Brauereistraße” is a former brewery. The impressive copper brewing kettles visible through large windows were still in operation until the last century. In the Middle Ages, almost every village had several breweries. Beer was a common drink consumed with every meal—mostly diluted. Beer was preferred over water from streams and wells as a thirst quencher because it contained fewer pathogens.

You leave Haaren heading towards ● KP 50. In the area of the current community of Waldfeucht, there used to be ten windmills, five of which are still visible and listed as monuments. Just outside Haaren stands a tower windmill, built in 1842 as a grain and oil mill. In 1858 it was supplemented by a steam mill. It is still operational on certain days and open for visits.

Behind Obspringen, in whose center lies the previously mentioned ● KP 50, is the picturesque Obbach valley with its tree-lined meadows and pastures. It gives an impression of how village edges in earlier times harmoniously transitioned from the town center into open countryside.

At Braunsrath stands ● KP 49. Slightly off this point, a visit to Maria Lind Monastery is worthwhile (about 600 m, direction ● KP 12). It consists of several buildings, including the simple hall church (1749) with a Marian image of grace (17th century). This monastery is one of the most important Marian pilgrimage sites in the region. In 1986, during its expansion, a pilgrims’ church was built between the original buildings. A Stations of the Cross lies in the park behind the chapel.

On the way to ● KP 48 via Hontem and open fields rises a mill stump in Bocket. Built in 1840 as a tower windmill (“earth Hollander”), it was operational until 1915. Today, without sails, it is used as a residence. Behind junction 48 is a small field chapel, built during plague times in the Middle Ages and dedicated to St. Roch. Having been rebuilt and expanded several times, it now serves as a Marian chapel.

Soon you will also see the Waldfeucht Windmill. It was built in 1897 as a replacement for the collapsed Waldfeucht city mill. It is the “youngest” windmill in the Rhineland. The mill is still commercially operated as a grain mill and is also open to visitors on certain days.

The cycling route winds through the narrow streets of the Waldfeucht town center to ● KP 31. Worth seeing is the three-nave late Gothic basilica, which was built in the 16th century after a city fire using old Frankish and Romanesque building parts. The hedge-lined rampart paths and moats around the old town center mark the course of the old city walls and invite you on a romantic walk.
Or visit the Waldfeucht Local History Museum, formerly Gerhard Tholen Room (‘Brabanter Straße 32’) in the former school. The small museum is lovingly managed by the Historical Association of Waldfeucht. It displays numerous treasures from past times and offers genealogy researchers a true treasure trove.

On the way back towards ● KP 33 you will pass the so-called “little castle” on Lambertusstraße, the current seat of the municipal administration. It originally dates from the Middle Ages and was an estate with a manor house and farm buildings.

After about 1 km, you reach the starting point of the route again, the Brüggelchen Leisure Center. Here you can relax with a refreshing drink, enjoy the view of the pond, or stay active with a game of mini-golf.