Düppelsmühle

In the course of open-cast lignite mining, the Inde was relocated along a length of 12 kilometers around the open-cast mine and is now a vivid example of a near-natural river landscape and habitat for many plants and animals.

Follow the course of the River Rur and stop off at the bathing lakes in Düren. This 19.4-kilometre loop starts in the town centre and has been assigned a difficulty level of easy.

The watercourses and their floodplains are a typical and ecologically valuable part of the Rureifel with a great wealth of flora and fauna. This diversity is thanks to the farmers who have mowed the meadows for centuries. When modern forms of farming close to villages made haymaking in the valleys no longer worthwhile, spruce trees were planted there. Efforts are currently being made in many places to restore the original floodplain vegetation. The characteristic terracing can be seen in many places along the hiking trail. This occurs when a river is no longer able to transport its debris and deposits it in the floodplain. If a river deepens again due to a change in climate, it cuts through the previously formed terrace. The formerly swampy valleys of the Eifel only acquired their function as traffic routes after the river regulation at the beginning of the 20th century.

Low gradient tour, accessible all year round, several route options. If you stay on the main paths, the tour is also suitable for people with limited mobility with a walking frame or in a wheelchair as well as for families with baby carriages or on a walking bike.

Jülich combines Renaissance history with cutting-edge research. The 16th century fortress town is now a center for energy, climate and bioeconomy and invites you to discover its fortifications, the Citadel Museum and the Brückenkopf Park.