The low gradient cycle tour leads through several districts of Düren and past Burgau Castle, Birgel Castle and Merode Castle. The Düren bathing lake and the Echtz bathing lake are also on the route, which is also suitable for less experienced cyclists due to its topography. There are numerous places to stop for refreshments along the way and the castles and fortresses invite you to stop for a photo or to linger.

Birgel moated castle is a four-winged complex made of quarrystone. It was first mentioned in documents towards the end of the 13th century, when Count Gerhard von Jülich gave Johann von Birgel a "Birgel House". It was given its current layout at the end of the 16th/beginning of the 17th century. The castle buildings were largely destroyed during the Second World War. The then municipality of Birgel (now part of the town of Düren) acquired the castle and converted it into today's community elementary school.

Burgau Castle, whose origins date back to the 14th century, was acquired in 1917 together with the surrounding forest by the town of Düren with the support of the Benno Schoeller Foundation. After its destruction in the Second World War, the romantic moated castle was rebuilt with the help of the citizens' campaign "Save Burgau". In addition to exhibitions, events are also held in the festival and concert hall.

The magnificent Merode Castle is one of the most impressive castles in the district of Düren and is known far beyond the region. The ancestral seat of the now widely ramified Princes of Merode can be traced back to the 12th century. The popular Christmas market and many other events have made Merode Castle a nationally renowned location. Please note: The castle grounds are only accessible during events!

Route description

The circular tour is not signposted with its own route logo, but runs along designated cycle paths. The route starts at Annakirmesplatz or at the stop of the same name on the Rurtalbahn in Düren. Coming from the Annakirmesplatz parking lot, we first cycle a short distance in a north-westerly direction on the Rurdammweg to Aachener Straße, where the Rurtalbahn stop is located, and where we reach the RurUfer cycle path and the Wasserburgen route (alternative route with green logo). We follow the two route logos in the direction of Kreuzau. At the weir in Lendersdorf, the RurUfer-Radweg and the Wasserburgen-Route separate and we follow the Wasserburgen-Route and the signs to Burgau Castle. There we meet the main route of the moated castles route (blue logo), which we now follow for the next 14 km or so, initially in the direction of Kreuzau / Niederau as far as Schlich. After a short detour to Merode Castle (private grounds, access only at public events!) in Schlich, we leave the moated castles route and follow the signs towards Echtz / Geich. We cross under the railroad tracks, cross the B 264 and follow the L 13 through Geich to the entrance to Echtz. Here we meet the Dürener Seenrunde, whose logo we follow in the direction of Düren / Konzendorf. Passing the Echtz bathing lake and the Düren bathing lake, we reach Valencienner Straße. We continue along the Dürener Seenrunde until shortly before the Willy-Brandt-Park / Stadtpark Düren. While the Dürener Seenrunde branches off to Düren town center, we stay on Valencienner Straße and follow it to its end, where it meets Aachener Straße. Here we cross the Johannesbrücke bridge, which takes us to the starting point of our cycle tour.