The northern region in the district of Düren is a vivid example of the profound landscape and structural change caused by open-cast mining.

The three lakes, which are water-filled residual holes from the former open-cast lignite mine, show what the open-cast mining landscape can one day become. They are ideal for swimming and water sports or serve as cooling and process water reservoirs for the Weisweiler power station. After the end of lignite mining in the Inden, Garzweiler and Hambach open-cast mines, an impressive lake landscape with a wide range of leisure activities will be created here in a few years' time.

The Goltsteinkuppe in Inden was also created by open-cast mining. This former spoil tip is now home to a popular leisure facility and the "Indemann" observation tower - a steel construction that offers a fascinating view of the open-cast mine.

The village of Inden takes its name from the river of the same name, the course of which had to be diverted by the open-cast mine. Today, the "Neue Inde" meanders naturally through a floodplain landscape with wetland biotopes and has been restored to its original meandering form.

Route description

The circular tour is not signposted with its own route logo, but runs along designated cycle paths. The route starts at Annakirmesplatz in Düren. We first cycle a short distance in a north-westerly direction on the Rurdammweg to Aachener Straße, turn left and cross the Rur on the Johannesbrücke bridge. We then turn right into Valencienner Straße and cycle out of town along Willy-Brandt-Park towards Gürzenich. A short detour takes you to the Düren bathing lake, where you can take a break. After crossing the main road, the route continues to the Echtz bathing lake.

Once we have passed the highway bridge, the view of the mighty open-cast mining landscape opens up. The cycle tour initially runs alongside the highway for a while and continues via Lake Lucherberg to Inden, where there is a viewpoint into the open-cast mine. We then follow the Inde and the recultivated Neue Inde to Kirchberg. We cycle almost all the way around the Inden open-cast mine, with detours to Aldenhoven and Jülich along the way. South of Schophoven, there is another opportunity to take a look into the huge open-cast mine hole and learn more about the transformation process at the Rur-Ufer-Radweg adventure station.

In Merken we meet the Rur-Ufer-Radweg and follow it into Düren to our destination and starting point of our cycle tour at the Annakirmesplatz.