The 20 km long art route leads past 8 of the more than 100 "Pillars of Freedom" worldwide and exudes a unique charm through the encounter with numerous relics of Alsdorf's industrial culture.

The Pillars of Freedom are part of the international art project "Pillars of Freedom", initiated by the Alsdorf sculptor Alfred Mevissen. The sculptures were developed by international artists and are currently installed in 20 countries around the world - 8 of them in the immediate vicinity of Alsdorf. Each of these memorials stands for an active commitment to a self-determined life in freedom and embodies an individual approach to how a life in freedom can function in a social context.

Our route begins at the Alsdorf town hall. On the first section, we first delve deep into the history of mining and the ongoing structural change in the town of Alsdorf. All that remains of the former "Anna" colliery - one of the largest in Germany - is the winding tower. However, the entire history can be relived and experienced in the Energeticon adventure museum. Formerly industrially used areas of the Anna mine have been transformed into the "Anna Park". We ride along this green area, past the energy experience museum, to the mining settlement of Alsdorf-Busch.

Afterwards, another relic of Alsdorf's past crosses our path, as we now pass the striking, historic Noppenberg and Nordstein (right hand) and Anna I and Anna II (left hand) mine dumps to the Alsdorf district of Ofden. As soon as we have left the man-made elevations behind us, we cycle along the idyllic nature reserve "Mittleres Broichbachtal" and through the district of Mariadorf back to Alsdorf-Mitte.

To delve even deeper into the history of the town, the last section of the route takes us directly to Alsdorf Castle - a typical Rhenish moated castle. The castle park invites you to linger before returning to the starting point from this final cultural highlight.

The following "pillars of freedom" can be discovered on this cycle tour:

1. "The Fool" - Alsdorf Town Hall
2. "From the depths to freedom" - between Anna Park and the shopping center
3. "Freedom through renewable energy" - Euregio Solar Center near Energeticon
4. "GAIA - unchain my heart an set me free" - Karl-van-Berk-Park Ofden
5. "Pacem, Liberata, Humanan (I)" - Josef-Thelen-Park Mariadorf
6. "Diversity and cooperation" - Gustav-Heinemann comprehensive school Alsdorf
7. "I and you is we 4 freedom" - Burgpark
8. "Lightness" - Südpark am Ohligsweg