Mergelland, Heuvelland, Hügelland or Kreidetafel - there are many expressions for the gently undulating landscape that unfolds from the west of Aachen to Maastricht.

Half-timbered houses dominate the landscape with their black beams and whitewashed clay. On the Belgian side, they are replaced by quarry stone houses. Many are registered monuments and are over 400 years old. The lime-rich, fertile soils have always offered favorable conditions for agriculture. On our cycle tour, we are accompanied by wide green pastures, farmland, orchards and farm gardens and opportunities to buy and taste products from the Heuvelland region. Many a half-timbered house has been spruced up. In a mix of tradition and chic, vacation apartments and restaurants have moved in and are attracting guests.

Culinary delights tempt you to take a break from cycling, in keeping with the "Burgundian way of life" praised in Limburg. The spectrum ranges from flatbreads, coffee specialties, cheese, syrup and homemade ice cream to wine tasting. Dutch wine? That's right, on the "Route de Vins Vijlen-Holset" we pass the St. Martinus vineyard, which has been producing internationally acclaimed organic wines here on 28 hectares since 1988.

The breaks are well deserved. After all, we want to tackle all kinds of climbs, such as the long ascent up the hill in Sippenaeken in Belgium or the Vaalserberg, which at 322.5 meters is the Zugspitze of the Netherlands. In addition to enjoyable breaks, we are rewarded with five-star views over a picture-book landscape and gentle descents on quiet asphalt roads. We return via the ridge of the Aachen Forest on the old Bitweg, part of the international Way of St. James, down to Aachen city center.

Highlights along the route:

• Aachen Cathedral and historic old town
• Westpark, Aachen
• Border cottage "Kleng Wach", Vaals (NL)
• Hervormde Kerk, Vaals (NL)
• De Kopermolen, Vaals (NL)
• Von Clermonthuis, Vaals (NL)
• Kasteel Bloemendal, Vaals (NL)
• Sint Martinuskerk, Vijlen (NL)
• Epermolen/Wingbergermolen, Epen (NL)
• Beusdal Castle, Sippenaeken (B)
• Mill, Terbruggen (B)
• Hubertus parish church, 12th century altar, Gemmenich (B)
• Dreiländerpunkt: boundary stones, highest point in the Netherlands, Baudouin Tower, labyrinth