The Aachen coalfield is considered to be the oldest coal mining area in Europe. It's amazing how the region has changed over the last 20 years - we discover an exciting mixture of industrial culture and fascinating landscape! Just as hard coal, the "black gold", first had to be dug out of the ground, there are still many hidden treasures to discover in the region today:

CYCLING ON THE TRACKS OF THE BERGBAUS means discovering the green side of Aachener Land. The trail to the black gold leads us on this tour from the Middle Ages to modern times

We cycle through ancient forests and meadows along the valleys of the Wurm and Broichbach rivers and in the vast Börde landscape, the pyramids of mining, as the slagheaps of the former Aachen mining district are affectionately known today, remind us of the disused mines that shaped the region for over a century. However, nature has long since reclaimed these man-made giants. Where the black gold was once dug out of the ground, you can now discover green natural oases with some pristine vegetation and the accessible slagheap summits offer heavenly views. Castles, an animal park and the Nivelstein sand works with panoramic views also line our route.

Highlights along the route:

• Broicher Weiher time slot
• Rode Castle time slot
• Nivelsteiner Sandwerke time slot
• Carl-Alexander-Park time slot
• Time slot Adolf mine
• Time slot Energeticon
• Alsdorfer Weiher zoo
• Nature reserve Wurmtal
• Baesweiler Castle
• Noppenberg slag heap