Die rheinische Apfelroute

The Rhenish Apple Route is a circular route through the entire Rhine-Voreifel region. It gives you a unique insight into the largest fruit and vegetable growing region in North Rhine-Westphalia.

You can start at any point along the route. The choice of direction is also up to you. However, for the sake of simplicity, we have chosen Alfter-Ort as the starting point for this short tour description and describe the tour in a clockwise direction:

 

Leaving Alfter, we start with a steep climb up to the plateau of the Rhine terraces. Don't let it scare you! Unfortunately, due to the traffic situation and the topography, this climb cannot be avoided and remains a one-off. The reward is great views and low-traffic cycle paths through the apple orchards. Via the Alfter districts of Ramelshoven, Volmershoven and Heidgen, you enter the Kottenforst, the former hunting grounds of the Cologne electors. On the other side of the forest, the picturesque Drachenfelser Ländchen awaits us. The Rhenish Apple Route takes us past half-timbered houses, rural romance and a multitude of berry and apple orchards. Along the way, we are constantly amazed by the views of the Siebengebirge mountains on the other side of the Rhine. We continue by bike via Berkum, home of the widely visible radome (radar dome of the Fraunhofer Institute) and the pottery village of Adendorf towards the apple town of Meckenheim. Here too, countless apple trees characterize the route. The orchards are interrupted by large, park-like nursery fields before you reach the center of Meckenheim. After passing through the charming village of Lüftelberg, we come to Rheinbach. Rheinbach's townscape is characterized by historic buildings. At the same time, however, Rheinbach is also a modern business location and home to the University of Bonn's agricultural research farm, Campus-Klein Altendorf, which we pass on our tour. From the Rheinbach district of Oberdrees, we continue to Swisttal. Characterized by beautiful views and extensive meadows and fields, we cycle across wide plains with magnificent views. Along the Swist, the constant sound of water accompanies us to Heimerzheim Castle, an impressive moated castle that is now used as an event location and hotel. The apple route leads slightly uphill through Heimerzheim to the Rhine terraces of Bornheim. Downhill through numerous Bornheim districts, we reach the large vegetable fields in the Rhine plain. Fields full of lettuce, asparagus, vast orchards, regional farm stores and the Rhine offer varied views and many opportunities to marvel and linger. After the short detour to the Rhine, we cycle back to Alfter along the slopes of the Ville.

The Rhenish Apple Route is particularly worth seeing in spring and fall. You can also learn a lot about fruit and vegetable growing in the region from our partner farms, for example during a guided tour of the farm.

If the 124 km of the main route are not enough for you, you can let off steam on the six secondary loops (approx. 15-40 km each). In Alfter, Bornheim, Meckenheim, Rheinbach, Swisttal and Wachtberg, there are further exciting sights and attractive views that are not included in the main route.

CAR

You can park your car at many points along the route and start your cycle tour straight away. TIP: Choose your parking space so that you can take the train back to your car in the evening!

By train

You can reach us via the long-distance network of Deutsche Bahn and the regional network of Verkehrsverbund Rhein-Sieg (VRS). The choice of the right station depends of course on the desired tour start. You can plan your arrival and departure conveniently online on the websites of the transport companies. www.vrsinfo.de  www.bahn.de 

Cycle map Rheinische Apfelroute 1:50,000, free of chargeCycling map, Rhine-Sieg district with junction system 1:50,000, ISBN: 978-3-87073-903-4, price € 7.95 (BVA Verlag)

www.apfelroute.nrw  

Alfter center

Alfter center