Valkenburg, Meerssen, Gulpen

When you cycle through the Limburg hills, you enjoy views that are unparalleled. Fairytale castles, beautiful ruins, roadside chapels and, of course, the marl quarries. The underground search for chalk rock and limestone has created a total of some 250 underground tunnel systems. These systems are now called the marl quarries or marl caves. Several castles you encounter along the way were built with marl blocks from these quarries.

Start in Valkenburg, where several marl quarries can be visited. The Fluweelengrotte is one of the best known, but the Sibbergroeve under the Sibberberg is the largest underground marl quarry in the Netherlands. In the centre of the cosy town you will find plenty of terraces, as well as fun attractions such as the caves and a fairytale forest. The cycle route takes you along the impressive water tower of 'The Giant of Schimmert'. You can climb the water tower. At the top, you look out over the beautiful hills of Limburg.

Besides the climb of the water tower, the cycle route will have you climbing and descending quite a bit at times. But the lovely villages, amazing landscapes and fairytale Pit stops make it more than worth it!