4 Countries Rails to Trail Tour

A cyclists dream for 127 kilometers on a little-known route called the Fenway through the forest. This is Rails to Trail Europe. We ride on perfectly paved bike paths in Holland, peddling south into Germany, Belgium, Luxembourg and Germany again. The landscape is dotted with ancient abbeys, tidy villages with their whitewashed brick and half-timbered homes. We hopscotch along borders visiting two Imperial Cities (Aachen and Trier). With its lush forests and clean rivers, this region oozes abundance. The route meanders through high moor and grassland terrain, famous the world over for its local cheeses, cured meats and grains that flavor rich Belgian ales. Trailside cafés serve warm waffles with sweet toppings. Of course, sampling local specialties is what we do best.

Every day we bike through history. The Romans were firmly entrenched here evidenced by fort ruins, bridges, complex bathhouses, lead and copper mines, and a 130km aqua-duct supplying fresh water to troops on the Rhine River. Later, these woods were the favored hunting grounds of 9th century Carolingian emperors. A motherlode of iron and coal made the region a key player in steel manufacturing during the Industrial Revolution. The many markers and memorials remind passers-by of both the destruction and liberation by Allied Forces during the Battle of the Bulge.This is a destination you won’t find on your own. It’s tucked away, straddling borders you’d never know were there…a place mostly forgotten in the mists of time, a hidden gem in the heart of old Europe.