All indeland cycle routes run predominantly on car-free paths, cycle paths along roads and in some cases on low-traffic side roads with predominantly flat gradients. The routes run on flat to slightly hilly terrain and are therefore also suitable for children and less trained cyclists.

The Blausteinsee route leads around the Blausteinsee lake, which was created as part of the recultivation of the Zukunft-West open-cast mine. Where once there were villages and fields, there is now the approximately 100-hectare, 46-metre-deep Blausteinsee lake, offering bathing fun for the whole family. Diving, sailing, surfing, swimming, canoeing - the lake leaves nothing to be desired for water lovers. Memorial stones and wayside crosses on the paths around the lake and the surrounding green belt are reminders of the places that once existed and had to make way for the advancing open-cast mining.

However, to reduce the route solely to the newly created lake and the idyllic landscape surrounding it would be too short-sighted. There is also plenty to discover away from the water: the Indemann on the Goltsteinkuppe, visible from afar, offers the viewer a spectacular panoramic view of the indeland. The 36-metre-high landmark points with its arm to the constantly changing landscape of the Inden open-cast mine. If you are interested in the topic of open-cast lignite mining, we recommend a detour to the RWE Info Center in the Weisweiler lignite-fired power station, which is located along the route. Here, the process sequence from lignite mining to electricity generation and the development of a sustainable recultivated open-cast mine is shown. Numerous (moated) castles along the route, such as Haus Kambach, Kinzweiler Castle and Haus Palant, are reminders of times gone by when dukes and knights roamed the land.

Route description

From Eschweiler Talbahnhof, the route initially follows the green route (green and white insert sign) for around three kilometers to junction 83. Via junctions 85, 39, 84, 68, 35, 66, 67, 79, 81, the route continues in the direction of junction 83 until you reach the beginning of the green route approx. 150 m after the market square in Eschweiler, after crossing the Landesstraße L223 and Inde at the beginning of the pedestrian zone (Neustraße), you will find the cycle path signpost with the destination "EW-Talbahnhof", which leads back to the starting point.

To reach the Indemann, which is about one kilometer from the route, do not turn right at the church in Inden-Lamersdorf into "Schwarzer Weg", but leave the route and cycle diagonally right over the bridge. Then follow the general signs to the Indemann. You can reach the shore of the Blausteinsee by turning off at junction 67 in the direction of junction 82 instead of junction 79. After about one kilometer, you will reach Seeuferstraße, which will take you left to the lakeshore and the lake stage.