Diersfordter Wald, © Tourismus NRW e.V.

Lower Rhine


Ex­pans­ive land­scapes with many high­lights

With its expansive landscape, the Lower Rhine is a popular holiday destination – even in winter. Because that is when thousands of wild geese come to spend the winter in the Rhine wetlands – a unique natural spectacle. And it’s not just Arctic geese that flock to the region between the Rhine and Maas: cyclists appreciate the many trails lined with gnarled willow trees that run past idyllic river wetlands and moors. For art lovers, the Lower Rhine offers rewarding excursion destinations with museums, parks and castles.
 

Cyclist on the Rhine cycle path near Xanten, © Dominik Ketz, Tourismus NRW e.V.

Junc­tion points show the way

In the recreational region of Heinsberg, cyclists can cycle by numbers. A total of 90 junction points show you the way. And cycling on tracks is also possible: with the "Grenzland-Draisine” (frontier trolley), couples, families and groups can explore the area around Kleve and Kranenburg. Anyone who would prefer not to travel under their own steam can take the Selfkantbahn railway, the last narrow-gauge steam engine in North Rhine-Westphalia.

In order to explore the natural surrounding of the Lower Rhine on foot, a trip to nature park Schwalm-Nette is well worth it: between picturesque moors, tranquil lakes and idyllic riverside forests, nature can be experienced in its purest form and you can feel perfectly relaxed.

Break at Moyland Castle while cycling on the Rhine Cycle Route, © Dominik Ketz, Tourismus NRW e.V.

Joseph Beuys and Ro­man his­tory

Many galleries on the Lower Rhine are dedicated to contemporary art. Museum Schloss Moyland in Bedburg-Hau, for example, is home to the international Joseph Beuys Archive, among other things, and is also worth visiting for its historic gardens and park landscape. Anyone who would like a glimpse into the past can visit Germany’s biggest open-air archaeological museum. The only Roman city north of the Alps is to be found on the grounds of Xanten Archaeological Park. The centrepiece of the park is the LVR-Römermuseum, which tells the story of Xanten’s 400-year Roman history based on original finds from the Roman city and the legion camps.

Apropos the past: the castles, fortresses and manor houses, which act as stone witnesses to Lower Rhine history in many locations, are definitely worth visiting.

  • View from the shore to the Diersfordter Waldsee at the Lower Rhine at sunset, © Tourismus NRW e.V.
    Typical pollarded willows on the Lower Rhine, © Ralph Sondermann, Tourismus NRW e.V.
    Blässgänse am Niederrhein, © Sebastian Hennigs
  • View from below of a flock of birds in the air in the Lower Rhine area, © Tourismus NRW e.V.
    View of the city of Xanten on the Lower Rhine from above, © Tourismus NRW e.V.
    Cycling on the Lower Rhine, © Dominik Ketz, Tourismus NRW e.V.

More in­form­a­tion

Discover it now!

Hik­ing, cyc­ling & well­ness

Dis­cov­er­ies in the re­gion Nieder­rhein

The Ölberg in the Nature Park Siebengebirge, © Tourismus NRW e.V.

Nature park Siebenge­birge

Read more
The cathedral, the Rhine and the Hohenzollern Bridge shine in the glow of the Cologne lights, © Dieter Jacobi / Köln Tourismus

Co­logne lights

Read more
Unesco-Welterbe Zeche Zollverein, Essen, © Simon Erath

'Essen­er Auf­bruch'

Read more
The final fireworks are part of the Extraschicht. One takes place at the Henrichshütte, © Ruhr Tourismus, Kreklau

Events: The Great Stars

Read more
Autumn kayak tour on the Rur in the Eifel, © Johannes Höhn

Golden au­tum­nal mo­ments

Read more
Werther Brücke in Wuppertal, © WMG

Rolling, run­ning, and swim­ming tech­no­logy

Read more
Dyck Castle in Jüchen, © Tourismus NRW e.V.

Or­der bro­chures

Read more
Beer garden Johann Schäfer Cologne, © Johannes Höhn

FAQ beer

Read more
Station on trail "Waldfeenpfad", Brilon, © Tourismus NRW

Fa­miliys

Read more

Cul­ture, shop­ping & events

Dis­cov­er­ies in the re­gion Nieder­rhein

Xanten, APX, Fundamente des römischen Stadtbades, © Axel Thuenker dgph

Ar­chae­olo­gic­al Park Xanten

Read more
Mairitt im Freilichtmuseum, © Niederrheinisches Freilichtmuseum

Doren­burg Open-Air Mu­seum in Gre­frath in the Lower Rhine

Read more
Rows of decorative houses and small cafés are waiting in the old town of Linn, © Stadt Krefeld

Krefeld

Read more
Schloss Moyland ist ein Wasserschloss bei Bedburg-Hau, © Dominik Ketz, Tourismus NRW e.V.

Moy­land Castle in Bed­burg-Hau

Read more
Museum Insel Hombroich: Turm, begehbare Skulptur von Erwin Heerich, © Tomas Riehle/Arturimages

Mu­seum In­sel Hom­broi­ch in Neuss

Read more
Die Barockbrücke, heute auch Hochzeitsbrücke genannt, ist im Park von Schloss Dyck ein beliebtes Fotomotiv., © Tourismus NRW e.V.

Schloss Dyck Jüchen

Read more
Digital Church Aachen interior view, © Johannes Höhn

Cowork­ing Spaces

Read more
View of the Düsseldorf Media Harbor including the Rhine Tower, © Tourismus NRW e.V.

Düs­sel­dorf and nean­der­land

Read more
KD-Ship on the Rhine in Cologne, © Johannes Höhn

Co­logne

Read more